The South Carolina city is giving golf cart drivers more clarity and flexibility, while keeping them off major roads and limiting late-night operation.
Golf cart drivers in Cayce, South Carolina, now have a clearer set of rules for where, when and how they can ride through town. City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance that limits golf carts to secondary streets with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less, bans operation between midnight and 6 a.m., and requires working headlights and taillights for any driving after sunset or before sunrise.
According to thestate.com, the ordinance took effect immediately after its second reading at the June 11 council meeting, where the four-member council and Mayor Elise Partin approved the measure. The city’s secondary roads include local and residential streets such as Axtell Drive, Naples Avenue, Old Dunbar Road, Old State Road and State Street. Major four-lane corridors, including Knox Abbot Drive and Charleston Highway, remain off limits, though drivers may still cross higher-speed roads at intersections.
Council member Byron Thomas said he pushed for the ordinance after South Carolina passed a 2025 law giving local governments more control over golf cart regulations. One of his biggest goals was clearing up confusion over operating hours. Previous language tied golf cart use to “daytime,” which caused uncertainty during the summer months when daylight can stretch well into the evening.
“Golf carts had to follow what the state recommended, which was that golf carts had to be driven during the daytime, which caused a lot of confusion,” Thomas said. “The sun doesn’t go down in some parts until 9 or 10 o-clock.”
For residents who already use carts for neighborhood trips, the change is welcome. Jessica Corley, an attorney and 10-year Cayce resident, said the ordinance gives families more practical options.
“I’m really happy with the changes,” Corley said. “Now that we have lights on the golf cart, we can use it till midnight. That’s great, especially for the summertime.”
The ordinance also removes the previous four-mile restriction tied to the address on a cart’s registration certificate, giving Cayce residents more room to move around within city limits. Thomas said that change, along with clearer intersection rules, makes it easier to reach local businesses without pushing carts onto unsafe primary roads.
“People can cross over Knox Abbott and State Street and they can easily get to the CVS, they can get to El Jimador, Marco’s Pizza and Lizard’s Thicket,” Thomas said.
The city’s approach reflects a balancing act happening in communities across the country. Golf carts are increasingly used as neighborhood transportation, especially in warm-weather cities where residents want a slower, open-air way to run short errands. But with that popularity comes safety concerns, particularly when carts mix with larger vehicles or operate late at night.
Cayce’s ordinance attempts to keep the best parts of golf cart culture while setting firm limits. Drivers gain more freedom to travel to restaurants, shops and nearby neighborhoods, but the city keeps carts away from major roads and the most dangerous overnight hours.
Corley said the change gives residents more confidence to enjoy the city in a low-speed, community-focused way. For Cayce, the message is simple: golf carts are welcome, but the rules of the road still matter.
