Tourists vacationing on the Grand Strand are seeing more unified rules on beaches within Horry County.

The City of North Myrtle Beach set the tone with their tent regulations passed last December. This year, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Horry County and Atlantic Beach passed similar regulations. City of Myrtle Beach spokesman Mark Kruea said there are "more similarities now than there used to be."

Georgetown County Councilman Jerry Oakley is observing the model set by Horry County and the municipalities within it.

"Consistency I think is a very worthwhile goal here because you could literally, in Garden City Beach for example, have one foot in Horry County and one in Georgetown County and the two feet would be subject to different rules," said Georgetown County Councilman Jerry Oakley.

Those varying rules are what Joe Jim Summitt and his family ran into, "last year we brought a tent, like a canopy and we weren't allowed to put it up so we put it up and this year we see canopies, umbrellas and stuff here so I'm not sure which beach we were on last year."

That type of confusion is to be expected since tourists aren't necessarily thinking about what area they are in. Signs are posted, but you can easily wander from one area to another.

"I guess I haven't really thought about the different rules too much we just find out as we go," added Summitt.

One rule now in place in Horry County are limits on the size and placements of tents. Right now, Georgetown County doesn't regulate it. Instead, representatives from the group South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts tag tents left overnight with a note that warns they might be in the way of a turtle trying to find its nest. Oakley said that method has worked.

"I think if we have consistency it will be a lot easier to inform our visitors what the rules are and I think if they have better information you'll have better compliance," added Oakley. He continued, "I think it's only appropriate that Georgetown County should take a look at it and I would be the advocate for that to put it in front of Georgetown County Council for their consideration if they deem it a wise thing, perhaps we'll go in the same direction."

Surfside Beach Mayor Allen Deaton said the new rules give the area continuity and encourages Geeorgetown County to "take a look at it."