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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

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2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

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3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

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4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

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5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

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6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

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1. How do I apply?

The Police Department uses the Surfside Beach Police Department (SBPD) Law Enforcement Application (PDF) as the first step. This application includes waivers required for background checks. Applications must be submitted in hardcopy format with handwritten "inked" signatures. Applications should be turned in to Town Hall in person or by mail.

2. What is the department's hiring process like?

The Command staff continually evaluates the department's hiring procedures to ensure we identify the best candidates while staying in compliance with best practices and applicable laws and regulations.

Generally, when the Police Chief approves a hiring process, all on-hand applications are reviewed by a screening committee consisting of experienced supervisors in the department including members of the command staff. Applicants are screened multiple times to narrow down the eligible candidates.

The department uses several tools to identify the best candidates including panel interviews, standardized testing, physical testing, psychological examination, and an intensive background investigation.

At the conclusion of the process, the hiring panel presents eligible candidates to the Police Chief for consideration.

3. Does the department hire uncertified or inexperienced applicants?

While applicants with prior experience in law enforcement bring positive benefits to the department, a wider view of applicants is looked at. Several areas that are considered include military service, higher education, prior experience, and related experience. A lack of certification or experience should not discourage an interested person from applying; some of the department's most successful employees were hired with little to no experience in law enforcement. 

4. Does the department hire officers certified in another state?

The department does hire applicants with out-of-state certifications, using the same process as with uncertified applicants. If hired, an out-of-state certified officer generally must attend a special basic course at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy for a period of at least 6 weeks. 

5. Does the department have a field training program?

Most of the department's positions require some level of department-mandated training.

Police Officers must successfully complete the field training and evaluation program (FTEP) as part of their conditional offer of employment. The FTEP for Police Officers is a minimum of 8 weeks (336 hours) for certified recruits and 12 weeks (504 hours) for uncertified recruits. Recruits train will train with several of the departments certified field training officers (FTO) and are constantly evaluated on their proficiency.

6. What are the minimum requirements to become a Police Officer?

To be considered for a Police Officer position in Surfside Beach, applicants must meet certain minimum requirements to be considered including:

• Have of a valid high school diploma or GED
• Have the ability to speak and write clearly in the English language
• Be a resident of South Carolina
• Possess a South Carolina driver's license

See the following detailed job descriptions for each of the department's entry-level positions:

• Police Officer (PDF)
• Detention and Communications Officer (PDF)
• Evidence and Property Custodian (PDF)
• Transportation Flex Officer (PDF)

7. How long does the hiring process take?

Once a hiring cycle is approved by the Police Chief, the length of that cycle depends on the position being filled. In the case of a Police Officer position, the process can take several weeks for the formal process to be completed. Once the formal process is completed, selected candidates move to the background phase which can take an additional 2 to 4 weeks. 

8. Are there any disqualifiers from employment?

The department seeks only the best applicants and each application and applicant is examined on a case-by-case basis. Questions about specific situations should be directed toward a member of the department's command staff. Being honest and demonstrating integrity is essential and some situations may be disqualifiers only for certain positions. Some possible disqualifiers can include:

• Drug use
• Criminal history
• Financial management issues
• Vehicle operation issues
• Employment history issues

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1. What are the town's boundary limits?

The Town of Surfside Beach's limits extend from the south side of 17th Avenue North south to the north side of Melody Lane, east to the ocean, west to Sandy Lane and Azalea Lane. Please be aware that even though your mailing address may say "Surfside Beach," that does not necessarily mean you reside within town limits.

2. How is trash collected?

Per Town ordinance, every individual residence is issued and charged for one green moby cart (trash can). Billing is included on your Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority bill. The charge is $18.75 per month. A charge is applied whether the moby cart is used or not. Additional carts requested or deemed necessary by the sanitation supervisor to handle overflow would result in an additional $18.75 per cart charge. The cart must be placed at the designated location curbside by 6 am on your scheduled collection day.

3. How are recyclables collected?

Recyclables are collected town-wide every Friday. Recyclables can be co-mingled and must be placed in town-issued blue recycle cart for collection. Cart must be placed at the designated location curbside by 6 am on Friday. If you need a recycle cart or need additional recycle carts, please email Public Works or call 843-913-6360. There is no charge for either the recycle carts or the recycle collection service.

4. Do I need to call to schedule a "special pick-up"?

No - there is no need to call to schedule pick-up of yard debris or bulk items. Simply place the item(s) curbside by 6 am on the scheduled collection day.

5. What can I not put out for collection?

Public Works is not allowed to collect electronic waste (TVs, computers, etc), paint, paint cans, tires, batteries, and/or hazardous materials (chemicals) at the curb. These items can be disposed of on the third Saturday of each month at the Horry County Solid Waste Authority Landfill in Conway. For more information call SWA at 843-347-1651.

The Town holds semi-annual drop-off events at the Public Works facility to accept these items.

6. What are the fees for Sanitation Services?

Residential / In-Town:

• Green Moby Cart - $18.75 per month per cart.
• Blue Recycle Cart - There is no charge for recycle carts.

Commercial Dumpster Service:

• 6-yard dumpster - $26.25 per pick-up
• 8-yard dumpster - $31.75 per pick-up

All sanitation service charges, residential and commercial, will appear on your water bill and are billed through Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority.

7. Where is the Public Works Office located?

Public Works is located at 740 Sandy Lane just off of Glenns Bay Road. Our office hours are:

• May through September:
  Monday through Friday
  6 am to 3 pm
  Closed for lunch 11 am to noon
• October through April:
  Monday through Friday
  7 am to 4pm
  Closed for lunch noon to 1 pm

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1. When is the pier anticipated to be complete and open to the public?

Surfside Pier is slated to be walkable later in 2022 and to be fully operational by March 2023, six years after it was destroyed by Hurricane Matthew. The old Surfside pier was heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew on October 8th, 2016. Consensus Construction was awarded the $14.6 million project in September 2021 and marked the start of a long-awaited project for residents and visitors of the town of Surfside Beach. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in December 2021. (Updated estimated cost of the pier has risen to +$20 Million as of 2022) 

2. How many vacant buildings will be be available on the new Surfside Beach pier?

There are currently four interior retail spaces in three buildings, two interior walk-up spaces & a pavilion structure being planned near the end of the pier. The largest building is already leased by the owners of the former Surf Diner, Atlantic Restaurant Group. The other three spaces are in the process of being recommended by the Pier Committee through “Request for Proposals” submitted by the Town of Surfside Beach on April 8th, 2022, and subsequently reviewed by the Pier Committee. The Town Council will then proceed to vote on the Pier Committee’s recommendations and potentially negotiate new lease terms with the tenants chosen. 

3. What is the length & width of the new Pier?

The total pier length will be 814ft long from the entry stairs to the end of the pier.
The beginning of the pier will be 16ft wide between retail spaces
Middle of the pier will be 24ft wide  
The end of the pier will be 36ft wide at the last 83ft of the pier.
Pier will be 25ft tall (Nine feet taller than the old pier).
Pier will have staircase, elevator & accessible ramps.

4. What year was the first pier built in Surfside Beach?

The pier was first built in 1953 and has been rebuilt three times since storm damage. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Holliday Family owned and operated the pier. It was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954 and then again by Hurricane Hugo in 1989  and wasn’t rebuilt until March of 1993. The Town of Surfside has owned and operated the pier since 2008. Surfside Pier, Inc., which was comprised of a group of businessmen, first built a pier in Surfside Beach in the 1950s.

—John Monroe Johnson Holliday and his brother Joseph were stockholders and became owners of the pier in 1953.

—John Monroe Johnson Holliday became the pier’s sole owner in 1988 and eventually sold it to Pier Properties, Inc. (owned by the Scalise family) on May 25, 2000.

—Pier Properties, Inc. remodeled the pier and organized a reopening ceremony that was held on April 21, 2001.

The Town of Surfside Beach later purchased the pier in 2008. 

5. Who do I contact for more general information or suggest another FAQ?

 Piercommittee@surfsidebeach.org or the Town of Surfside Beach @ 843-913-6111.

 Attend a Pier committee or council meeting & share in public comments.

 We look forward to regularly updating these FAQs as the Pier Committee makes recommendations on retail spaces, kiosks and overall operating functions.