Beaufort County Council Passes New Gunfire Ordinance

The ordinance aims to prohibit discharging firearms within 500 feet of buildings or residences in unincorporated areas.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Beaufort County Council voted 7-4 to advance a new ordinance that would prohibit the discharge of firearms within 500 feet of any building or residence in the county's unincorporated regions. The initiative came after complaints from residents of the Lakes at New Riverside neighborhood about frequent gunfire and property damage. While some council members debated extending the prohibited firing range to 1,000 feet, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office advised maintaining the distance at 500 feet for effective enforcement.

Why it matters

The new ordinance is a response to ongoing safety concerns in Beaufort County, including reported gunfire and property damage in neighborhoods across the county. In one case, a home in Port Royal's Shadow Moss neighborhood was hit by seven bullets, damaging the exterior and interior while the family was home. The ordinance aims to address these community safety issues.

The details

The proposed ordinance would prohibit the discharge of firearms within 500 feet of any building or residence situated in the county's unincorporated regions. The initiative emerged following complaints from residents of the Lakes at New Riverside neighborhood, who reported frequent gunfire and claimed property damage. Although this neighborhood falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of Bluffton, the gunfire and damage complaints originate from a nearby unincorporated area.

  • The ordinance received a 6-2 approval from the Community Services and Public Safety Committee earlier.
  • The Beaufort County Council voted 7-4 in favor of advancing the new gunfire ordinance on Monday night.

The players

Beaufort County Council

The governing body of Beaufort County, South Carolina that voted on the new gunfire ordinance.

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that advised maintaining the prohibited firing range at 500 feet to ensure effective enforcement of the ordinance.

Lakes at New Riverside neighborhood

A neighborhood in Beaufort County that reported frequent gunfire and property damage, prompting the new ordinance.

Port Royal's Shadow Moss neighborhood

A neighborhood in Beaufort County where a home was hit by seven bullets, damaging the exterior and interior while the family was home.

Port Royal Police Chief Jeff Myers

The police chief who spoke in support of the county adopting the gunfire ordinance during the previous committee meeting.

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What they’re saying

“I'm inclined to make a motion to send this back to committee so that we can work on this and properly address it.”

— David Bartholomew, County Councilman (Newsfinale Journal)

“I'm going to support the ordinance as it is written. Now, I'm open to some further discussion, but we need to do something on the book to not appease, but to actually make an attempt to address the situation.”

— Gerald Dawson, County Councilman (Newsfinale Journal)

“Both their chief and assistant chief are very supportive of this. It was very bad what happened over there. I'm going to vote to support this thing. They had to take cover literally.”

— Alice Howard, Chair of the Council (Newsfinale Journal)

“It's happening in these neighborhoods and it's not just one person. I think we need to talk about safety. We're talking about children here, too.”

— Anne-Marie Tabernik, Council Member (Newsfinale Journal)

“The last thing I want to do is to inhibit people from using their guns as they intended when they bought the property.”

— Mark Lawson, Council Member (Newsfinale Journal)

What’s next

The ordinance will move forward to its second reading, and council members said they still have time to make adjustments in the upcoming hearings before any official law is set in place.

The takeaway

This new gunfire ordinance in Beaufort County is a proactive step to address ongoing community safety concerns, including reported incidents of gunfire and property damage in residential neighborhoods. While some council members raised concerns about restricting gun owners' rights, the majority voted to advance the ordinance, which aims to create a safer environment for all residents.