A new state law opens the door for late-night cruising, but business owners and residents are split over how far the city should go.
Golf cars are so common in North Augusta these days that no one blinks when they rumble past a grocery store, a hair salon, or a cluster of restaurants. These little rides have become part of the city’s personality, especially as the heat eases and residents pile in to enjoy the cooler months. But now, according to WRDW News, leaders are talking about taking that love one step further by allowing golf cars on the roads after sunset.
A new South Carolina law gives cities the freedom to craft their own rules on golf car use, and that opened the door for a fresh debate in North Augusta this week. The current setup limits carts to daytime hours, but council members spent Monday exploring the idea of extending that window well into the night. For some, this is the natural next chapter for a community where the car lifestyle is practically its own culture. For others, it’s a recipe for parking headaches and new safety concerns.
Matt Kelly, broker and owner of Wrkhorse Real Estate, has made no secret of which camp he’s in. He pointed out the abundance of easily accessible shops, restaurants, and services. “You can live a full life down here with just a golf car,” he said. In his view, the change would make daily life simpler and even spark new energy in the area. He doesn’t expect backlash, either. “I’d be surprised if you can find one person with a negative outlook on it,” Kelly said.
He spoke too soon.
Just a few blocks away, business owners were thinking about their already limited parking. At Antonio’s Italian Eatery, manager Melina Valentine sees the appeal, but she’s also imagining the domino effect of more cars squeezing into spaces that are already scarce. “It’s already hard for us to find parking,” she said. She wasn’t dismissive of the idea, only realistic. “It really just could be a 50-50,” she admitted, trying to balance convenience for patrons with the pressure on neighboring shops.
Kelly, meanwhile, framed the debate inside a much larger conversation about development. In his mind, communities either evolve or they stagnate. North Augusta, he believes, should push toward growth rather than retreat from it. The suggestion isn’t about fun toys on wheels, it’s about creating a place where residents want to stay, shop, and settle in.
At this stage, council isn’t voting on anything. Monday’s meeting was more of a temperature check, a chance to hear early opinions before drafting any ordinance. But the conversation marks a shift: daytime use is no longer the default expectation. The city is officially considering nighttime car life as a legitimate transportation option.
If the rule eventually changes, the city will need to navigate a stack of logistical wrinkles…everything from lighting requirements to clarity around where cars can and cannot go. The new state law still keeps several non-negotiables in place, including licensing and registration. Local leaders can add to those requirements, but they can’t take away state-mandated safety basics.
The bigger question isn’t regulatory. It’s cultural. North Augusta is deciding what kind of city it wants to be after dark. Will late-night golf car traffic feel like an upgrade to the neighborhood experience or create the kind of friction that sends people hunting for spaces in frustration?
For now, the idea is simply on the table. City officials haven’t rushed the process; they’re gathering reactions, weighing concerns, and trying to sketch out what this could look like in real life. There’s no timeline yet for the next step, but the discussion has clearly started.
And in a town where you can find cars lined up outside a grocery store like it’s the most normal thing in the world, the next few months may determine whether the familiar hum of those little engines becomes a nighttime soundtrack too.
