Golf Carts INN Our Town

We love seeing golf carts cruising through the City of Fountain Inn, but safety always comes first. With our new ordinance, Fountain Inn has expanded flexibility for residents while ensuring compliance with state requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Know where your City limits are.  This ordinance only applies within the City limits.  Anything outside of the City limits will fall under State Law.  

If you own a golf cart, here’s what you need to know:

  • The golf cart must be insured, permitted and registered with SCDMV. The driver must have the registration certificate and proof of liability insurance in his or her possession while operating the golf cart. 
  • The driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license in his or her possession while operating the golf cart on a public highway.  (a beginner’s permit does not qualify)
  • Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a  safety belt when the golf cart is being driven on public streets and highways.
  • The golf cart is allowed on any road, within the City limits, with speed limits of 35 mph or less, with no distance restriction from the owner’s residence.
  • The golf cart may not be operated during the period between 11:00 PM and sunrise.
  • Designated golf cart parking spots are reserved for golf carts only.

Q&A

Are golf carts allowed on 418?  No, unless they are crossing an intersection

What if I need to cross over a road with a speed limit exceeding 35 mph to get to my destination?   The Golf Cart is permitted to cross a highway or road at an intersection.

Is there a time restriction on operating golf carts?  Golf carts may be operated between sunrise and 11:00 p.m., provided they have working headlights, taillights, and turn signals.

What if my golf cart does not have turn signals but does have the other requirements? The golf cart may be used from sunrise to sunset as long as the operator uses proper hand/arm signals to signal a stop and/or turn.

What traffic laws must golf cart operators obey?  All golf carts must obey all traffic laws, including the Hands-Free Law. 

Can I carry my favorite cup?  Sure, but vehicle laws apply, so do not have any open alcohol on the golf cart.  

How many people can I carry on my golf cart?  Each passenger must be able to directly  sit on a seat designed by the manufacturer for that purpose

Are there any roads where operating a golf cart is prohibited?  Operating golf carts is not permitted on Highway 418 or on any roadway with a posted speed limit above 35 MPH. However, golf carts may cross these higher-speed roads intersections.

Golf Carts INN Our Town

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Golf Cart 3

Golf Cart Parking Ordinance Background

Fountain Inn City Council has unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-05, creating local rules for golf cart use within city limits.

This ordinance amends Chapter 19 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles), by adding Article IV (Low Speed Vehicles), Section 19-101 (Golf Carts and Recreational Vehicles), of the City Code of Ordinances of the City of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, 1992, as amended.

This action follows the passage of South Carolina House Bill H3292 (R92, Act 64), signed into law by Governor McMaster on May 22, 2025.  This State law allows cities and towns to adopt ordinances regulating golf carts.

If you are not within the City of Fountain Inn limits keep these differences in mind, golf carts under state law are allowed to operate:

  • Only during daylight hours
  • Only on a secondary highway where the speed limit is 35 mph or less
  • Only within 4 miles of the address on the registration certificate
  • Are permitted to cross a highway at an intersection where the speed limit is more than 35 mph