Golf cart drivers in Cayce, South Carolina, now have a definitive rulebook. City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance that restricts golf carts to secondary streets posted at 35 mph or under, bans operation between midnight and 6 a.m., and requires functioning headlights and taillights for any travel after sunset or before sunrise. The four-member council and Mayor Elise Partin passed the measure at the June 11 council meeting, where it took effect immediately upon its second reading.
The approved streets include local and residential roads such as Axtell Drive, Naples Avenue, Old Dunbar Road, Old State Road, and State Street. Major four-lane corridors like Knox Abbott Drive and Charleston Highway stay off limits to golf carts, though drivers are permitted to cross higher-speed roads at intersections — a detail Council member Byron Thomas highlighted as a practical win for residents trying to reach nearby businesses. Thomas said he pushed for the ordinance after South Carolina passed a 2025 law giving municipalities greater authority over golf cart regulations.
A key motivation behind the new rules was eliminating confusion around the old "daytime" language in state guidance. Thomas noted that during summer months, daylight can linger until 9 or 10 p.m., making it unclear when carts had to be parked. The midnight cutoff, paired with a lighting requirement, replaces that ambiguity with a firm, straightforward standard. The ordinance also eliminates a previous four-mile travel restriction tied to a cart's registration address, giving residents wider range within city limits.
Local residents welcomed the change. Jessica Corley, an attorney and 10-year Cayce resident, said the new rules make the cart a more useful option for family outings, particularly in the longer summer evenings. The ordinance reflects a broader trend of warm-weather communities working to integrate golf carts into everyday neighborhood transportation while drawing clear lines around safety and road access. Golf Car News first reported the story.
