Do you know which entity is responsible for what? We publish this post from time to time because it can be confusing to sort out what each entity does.
There are three entities on Seabrook Island that contribute to the quality of life we enjoy in this community.
The Town of Seabrook Island (TOSI) operates under the Mayor-Council form of government that determines matters of policy, insures that laws and ordinances are fully executed, and oversees the annual budget of the town.
The Seabrook Island Property Owner Association (SIPOA) is located within TOSI and provides community governance and municipal-type services such as infrastructure maintenance, recreational services, and trash collection. It manages common areas and enforces community rules.
The Seabrook Island Club is a private club that provides a variety of amenities on the island for its members.
To learn more about each of these entities and more, click on continue reading.
When an emergency arises, these are the appropriate resources to contact:
Fire/Rescue/Sheriff: Call 911 for all emergencies.
Power: Berkeley Electric (843-559-2458)
Town of Seabrook Island (843-768-9121) is responsible for:
- Accommodations tax and tourism promotion
- Beach management and beach rules (below the high water mark)
- Beach patrol (843-718-6083)
- Business licenses and rental licenses
- Commercial activity outside the gate
- Coordination of public safety services with Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns Fire Department, and Charleston County EMS
- Emergency planning and disaster response
- Landscaping and maintenance of Seabrook Island Road and bike/pedestrian pathways (between the security gate and the traffic circle)
- Municipal Court
- Municipal records and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
- Parade and special event permits
- Town ordinance enforcement
- Utilities (Water and sewer: Owned by the town but operated by the Seabrook Island Utility Commission and includes after-hours emergencies 843-768-0102)
- Zoning administration
Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA) (843-768-0061) is responsible for:
- Architectural Review Committee: review of plans (new construction, remodeling, landscaping, tree removal), routine inspections of properties, and enforcement of ARC Policies & Procedures
- Association general operations and governance
- Communications: weekly Highlights e-blast, Currents, Palmetto Pulse, Tidelines community blog, SIPOA.org website, message boards
- Collection of garbage, yard debris, and recycling
- Infrastructure (SIPOA-owned roads, stormwater drainage) maintenance and engineering
- Landscaping and mowing of common areas and road rights-of-way
- Operation and maintenance of amenities: The Lake House, Oyster Catcher Community Center and Property Owner pool, Gatehouse, Administration Office, garden plots, beaches (above the high water line), beach bonfire permits, boardwalks, nature trails, lakes, crab dock/kayak launch
- Security: Gatehouse 24/7 access control, patrols, rules enforcement
Seabrook Island Club (SIC) (843-768-2500) is responsible for:
- Administration of operations, maintenance, repair, etc., related to restaurants, golf, tennis, equestrian center, Beach Club pools, and Seabrook Island Real Estate Company (SIRE)
- Amenity cards
- Communications and marketing: Club and SIRE websites, SIC social media (Facebook, Instagram), and Veranda monthly newsletter
- Boat and RV Storage
Regimes and Associations
Seabrook Island has dozens of individual condo, villa and neighborhood regimes and associations, each with their own Covenants and Bylaws that regulate items specific to their homeowners. Most maintain common area landscaping. Some regimes are responsible for exterior maintenance of the buildings while others only maintain outside the drip line. All have their own assessments specific to their regimes to support these expenses. Many have independent Rules and Regulations for activities on their property, and some have private swimming pools. Contact your regime manager or regime board members for more information. Click here for a list of Regime contacts.
Power: Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Inc. (843-559-2458) handles power and street light outages (888-253-4232). If reporting that a street light is out, Berkeley will need the number on the light pole.
Water/Sewer: Seabrook Island Utility Commission includes after-hours emergencies (843-768-0102).
Charleston County (843-958-4000)
- Assessor and tax revenue services
- Building code inspections (including flood remediation inspections/advice)
- County courts
- Mosquito control (contact the TOSI)
- Register of Deeds
- Voter registration
–Tidelines Editors