The City of North Myrtle Beach is considering placing limits on how tourists spend their time in the sun and the shade.
Monday night, North Myrtle Beach City Council voted on an ordinance to change where tents and large umbrellas can be, but some worry the new rules will drive away a large part of the economy.
"I hate to use this expression, there are bigger fish to fry I think this could be handled administratively," said North Myrtle Beach resident Alex McNeil.
"You can have your tent. You just may not be able to put it exactly where you want to, but you'll still be able to have the tent. You'll still be able to go out to go out on the beach and enjoy it as much as possible," said North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley.
City Council says the large number of tents on the beach is a safety issue because it blocks the view for lifeguards and causes problems for emergency vehicles. Instead of banning them completely, they are opting for rules.
The ordinance would require tents to be 25 feet east of the dune line, which puts them behind the emergency lane. The proposal also limits the size of tents to 12 feet by 12 feet, and they can't be left in place overnight.
"They have to be 10 feet apart so that you will not have a wall effect. We also we also gave public safety the ability to remove tents if necessary for emergency reasons," Mayor Hatley added.
"I don't think anybody that lives here wants to have their property taxes increase, and if we lose revenue from the vacationers, that could certainly occur," argues McNeil.
Monday night, the ordinance passed first reading. If the ordinance is adopted, those who violate it can have their tent confiscated and face a fine of $250.
The second and final reading is expected on December 6th.
