The most impactful period, covering the central island from Palmetto Dunes down to the Sea Pines Entrance, is scheduled to occur during the turtle off-season from September 2025 until May 2026.
The beaches are open during the renourishment project construction operations, which proceed around the clock and will, on average, move along the shoreline at a rate of about 200 to 300 feet per day. Please note that only approximately 1,000 feet of beach access will be restricted daily, leaving all remaining Hilton Head Island beaches available.
Hilton Head Island’s beach is crucial to residents and the local economy. To preserve this valuable resource, the Town has planned a beach restoration project for Summer 2025, funded primarily by tourism through the local Beach Preservation Fee.
- The 2025 beach renourishment is expected to resemble the previous 1990, 1997, 2006, and 2016 projects.
- The proposed project will include placing approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of beach-compatible sand from up to four offshore borrow areas along about 46,500 ft of the Atlantic Ocean and Port Royal Sound shoreline.
- This project is part of the Town’s ongoing beach management program. Renourishment is scheduled every 8 to 10 years, depending on weather and beach conditions.
- Pine Island in Hilton Head Plantation will be included in the 2025 restoration.
The proposed project will include sand placement along five areas of the island shoreline:
- South Beach / South Island – Approximately 750,000 cubic yards of sand along approximately 10,230 feet of the southern Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
- Central Island – Approximately 700,000 cubic yards along 28,860 feet of Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
- The Heel – Approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand along 5,280 feet at the island’s northeast point at the Atlantic Ocean and Port Royal Sound shoreline intersection.
- Fish Haul Creek – Approximately 50,000 cubic yards of sand along about 2,130 feet of Port Royal Sound shoreline.
- Pine Island – Approximately 180,000 cubic yards of beach-compatible sand and six rock breakwaters were constructed on the Port Royal Sound shoreline of Hilton Head Plantation between Dolphin Head and Pine Island.
The following timeline may be subject to change depending on external factors beyond the Town’s control:
Phase I – Port Royal (the Heel), Fish Haul, and Pine Island.
Contractor mobilizes in July 2025.
Work begins in August 2025 at Pine Island.
Work completed November 2025 at The Heel/Port Royal.
Phase II – Central Island, South Island, and South Beach.
Work begins in November 2025 at the north end of Central Island beach.
Work completed May 2026 at the south end of South Beach.
Phase III – Pine Island Breakwater Structures.
To be determined – anticipated in 2026.
As the Town and contractor continue to coordinate over the next 30 days, additional project schedule and location details will be available.
