Estate Planning Attorney inBeaufort, SC

Complaints filed against homeowners’ associations in South Carolina have surged in recent years, according to new data from the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

According to the agency, HOA-related complaints increased 176% between 2019 and 2025.

In 2025 alone, the department received 586 complaints targeting 339 homeowner associations and property management companies across the state.

Beaufort County once again ranked among the top five counties for HOA complaints, tying with Dorchester County with 27 total complaints. Nearby Jasper County recorded just four complaints, but ranked fifth statewide with complaints per capita, tying with Richland County at 0.13%.

Below is a breakdown of 2025 complaints filed and their status in Beaufort and Jasper County communities, according to state records.

Beaufort County HOA complaints

Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort: A homeowner alleged the HOA board was acting as a landlord in violation of zoning restrictions, potentially jeopardizing the resort’s non-profit status. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Heritage at New Riverside: Residents raised concerns about maintenance and repairs, but due to disputed facts, an undetermined response was received.

A separate complaint involved a lien placed on a property and a request for waiver or adjustment of late fees, which did not receive a response and was left unsatisfied.

The Preserve at Indigo Run: Complaints included concerns over the allocation of HOA funds, failure to produce financial statements and ignored requests to access association documents. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Pinecrest Property Owners Association: A homeowner alleged the POA failed to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request and conducted secret meetings outside executive session without taking minutes. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Berkeley Hall Club: Residents cited failure to notify homeowners of board actions, concerns over allocation of funds, denial of the right to attend meetings or vote on subject matter changes, and failure to enforce covenants and bylaws. Due to disputed facts, an undetermined response was received.

Sun City Hilton Head Community: A homeowner requested a waiver or adjustment of a violation assessment. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Four Seasons Carolina Oaks: A complaint alleged that there were ignored requests to access association information and documents. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Palmetto Bluff: Multiple complaints were filed in 2025, including concerns regarding maintenance and repairs, disagreement over HOA fees and special assessments, claims of paying for services or amenities not being provided, failure to notify residents of board actions, issues related to board elections, failure to hold regular meetings, concerns about allocation of HOA funds, disputes over how assessment costs are split between homeowners and unsold lots, and dissatisfaction with developer management of the HOA.

All complaints received a satisfactory response.

Mill Creek at Cypress Ridge: One homeowner requested a waiver or adjustment of what they described as an excessive fine related to pool policy violations. This complaint received an undetermined response due to disputed facts.

An additional complaint cited failure to enforce covenants and concerns regarding maintenance, which received a satisfactory response.

Summerfield Villas: One complaint included failure to enforce covenants and bylaws, concerns over allocation of funds and a denial of the right to attend meetings or vote. This received a satisfactory response.

Another complaint stressed there was a failure to notify residents of board actions, which also received a satisfactory response.

Picket Fences: A homeowner alleged selective enforcement of covenants by the HOA president and also cited maintenance concerns and failure to enforce governing documents. This complaint did not receive a response and was left unsatisfied.

Azalea Square: Residents raised concerns regarding open meeting and notice requirements, transparency, failure to enforce covenants and bylaws and failure to notify residents of board actions. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Palmetto Pointe Townes: Complaints included concerns over maintenance and repairs, allocation of HOA funds and disagreement with fees or special assessments. The complaint received a satisfactory response.

Belfair: A complaint alleged a failure to enforce covenants and bylaws. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

Mariners Cove Club: A homeowner raised concerns regarding maintenance and repairs. Due to pending court action, this complaint is currently undetermined.

Old House Creek: Complaints included failure to enforce covenants, failure to notify residents of board actions, maintenance concerns and denial of the right to attend meetings or vote. These complaints received a satisfactory response.

Brighton Bay: A complaint cited ignored requests to access information and failure to produce financial statements, which received a satisfactory response.

Hampton Lake: Residents alleged failure to notify homeowners of board actions and raised concerns regarding allocation of HOA funds. No response was received, leaving this complaint unsatisfied.

Oldfield: One complaint involved maintenance concerns and issues related to decisions made by the architectural review committee, which received a satisfactory response.

Another complaint cited failure to enforce covenants, concerns about allocation of funds and ignored requests to access HOA documents. This complaint received an undetermined response due to disputed facts.

The Haven at New Riverside: Complaints included failure to enforce covenants, disagreement with HOA fees or special assessments and failure to produce financial statements. These complaints received a satisfactory response.

Harbor Island: Residents alleged that requests for information were ignored, failure to notify homeowners of board actions and failure to enforce governing documents. These complaints received a satisfactory response.

Jasper County HOA complaints

Although Jasper County recorded only four complaints in 2025, it ranked among the higher counties per capita.

Issues submitted by homeowners included:

Hilton Head Lakes: One complaint alleged that residents were paying for services or amenities not being provided. A second complaint involved disagreement with HOA fees or special assessments and a request to opt out of irrigation services paid for through the HOA. Both complaints received a satisfactory response.

Latitude Margaritaville: A complaint involved access to HOA amenities. Due to no response, this complaint was left unsatisfied.

Riverton Pointe: A complaint included issues with decisions made by the architectural review committee, maintenance concerns, actions taken by the property management company and failure to enforce covenants and bylaws. This complaint received a satisfactory response.

The full list of complaints can be viewed on the Excel sheet in the SCDCA’s 2026 report.

How do these complaints work?

The SCDCA categorizes complaints by status to determine appropriate responses. In many cases, the department refers disputes back to the HOA for internal resolution rather than taking direct enforcement action.

The statuses are outlined as follows:

Residents can file complaints with the agency, which then reviews documentation, contacts the association for a response and tracks the outcome. However, the department does not typically have authority to overturn HOA decisions, instead serving as a mediator and record-keeper for consumer concerns.

To learn more about the different types of complaint statuses, the SCDCA has a complaint label video.

To learn more about South Carolina’s HOA guidelines and complaints, visit the SCDCA webpage.

A new children’s creative learning center focused on music, movement and early development, Kindermusik, is set to open in Beaufort next week.

Doors will officially open Feb. 3, with free demo classes beginning Jan. 28. The studio is located in Beaufort Town Center, 2121 Boundary Street, Suite 208, next door to Revolution Ballroom and above Chick ‘N Boba.

Owned and operated by Alison Chambers, who holds over 25 years of experience in performing arts and early learning, the center will offer rotating weekly Kindermusik classes for children from birth through age 7, with a future Bluffton location also in the works.

What is Kindermusik?

Kindermusik is a music-centered early learning program founded in the late 1970s. It combines singing, movement, instruments, storytelling and imaginative play to support early childhood development.

Chambers says the curriculum is heavily influenced by Montessori-style principles, emphasizing meeting children where they are developmentally and allowing them to learn through exploration and guided interaction.

“Every child, even day to day, is learning and growing at a different pace,” she said.

Rather than traditional music lessons, classes are designed as participatory experiences for children. Parents or other caregivers attend classes alongside younger children, creating what Chambers describes as a bonding experience that can be carried into daily life at home.

What classes are offered & what does it cost?

Classes are structured by age, with some mixed-age options available to allow families with multiple children to attend together. Mixed-age classes also offer children the opportunity to learn by observing peers at different developmental stages, Chambers said.

Each class lasts about an hour and includes both structured activities and informal community time in a large, open space.

Classes are currently scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with sessions running from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Chambers said each class will have space for about eight students.

Families enrolled in weekly class memberships also receive access to the Kindermusik app, which includes music from class, narrated e-books, videos and activity ideas designed to reinforce learning at home, especially as young children prepare to enter kindergarten and early elementary grades. Discounts and make-up options are also available.

Monthly tuition is $75, but families who register by the end of February will receive $10 off each of the first three months. Military and sibling discounts are also available. Babies may attend classes free for the first three months of life.

To sign up or view classes and age offerings, click here to visit the Kindermusik website.

About the owner

Chambers, who owns and operates her own umbrella company, The Cat’s Meow Productions, has a background in performance, voice and business ownership with a professional theater in Atlanta. She is also accredited to teach all levels of the Kindermusik program.

The inspiration to open the studio grew out of her professional background and her experience as a parent, noting that early exposure to music supports brain development and skills linked to language, math and social growth.

“I really wanted my daughter introduced to music because of how much it did for me,” she said. “I fell in love with the program as I learned more about it.”

Originally from Georgia, she relocated to the Beaufort area in 2021.

The Beaufort studio is the first Kindermusik location in Beaufort County. The next closest locations are in Charleston, Savannah and Bloomingdale, Georgia.

To learn more about Kindermusik or the new location heading to Beaufort, visit the website or Facebook page.

It’s time for some food, music and fun on Paris Avenue in Port Royal with this weekend’s 2026 Bands Brews and BBQ festival. The event, in its 15th year now, is bringing two days of food, music and fun with wings, barbecue, beers and live music on Friday and Saturday, February 13th & 14th.

The official South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event benefits The Zonta Club of Beaufort and is always a fun time for foodies of all ages.

Friday night, February 13th is the Wing Throw Down from 6 to 9pm where you can sample wing recipes from participating cookers while enjoying live music from the Parris Island Marine Band, and Rick Rudd.

Saturday is all about the BBQ as BBQ tasting day runs from 11am to 4pm with cook teams from across the Southeast serving their award-winning butts. Flat Silly and another local band will be providing the entertainment for the day and there will also be food trucks on site serving up other fare.

The sampling of wings Friday night and BBQ Saturday will be available by purchasing tickets for $1. Beer, soda and wine will also be available for purchase and the event always takes place rain or shine.

There’s also over $5000 in cash prizes on the table for the cooking teams.

One of the highlights of the cooking event is the Hometown Heroes Award, which recognizes local cooking teams. These teams compete for a $500 prize and local bragging rights.

Cash prizes for the BBQ and Wing Competitions will be awarded on Saturday at 330pm, and they include $1500 for 1st place BBQ butts, and $500 for 1st place wings.

For more information about Bands Brews & BBQ in Port Royal, and its many volunteer opportunities, go to ZontaClubofBeaufort.org.

There’s plenty of parking and the weather will be perfect. Make sure you come hungry, because there is a lot of eating going on at this amazing festival of food!

Find more local Beaufort, SC events

Spring is nearly here in Beaufort and soon we’ll be starting to see temperatures warm up, flowers sprouting up, and the pollen starting to stick to our cars and just about everything else in sight.

And, actually, the pollen will be here before spring actually starts.

This is the time of year in the Lowcountry that we start to get excited about everything that leaving winter in our rear view mirrors brings: outdoor festivals, shorts, flip flops, walks at the beach and the sun on our faces. There are just so many things to look forward to.

So many, that we put together 9 reasons we can’t wait until spring arrives in Beaufort.

9. A much more colorful Beaufort The marsh grass starts to turn from brown to a nice green and the Confederate jasmine, azaleas and other flowers start to show off their colors.

8. Warmer weather means less clothing (and more flip flops) We get rid of our hoodies and shove them back into the closet until November rolls around, and replace them with flip flops, shorts and t-shirts….the usual Beaufort-attire.

7. Sea Turtle Season Later in the spring, Mama sea turtles visit Beaufort’s local beaches to build their nests. Fripp, Hunting, St. Helena and Pritchard’s Islands each have turtle teams that walk the beaches every morning to help a mama out. A 300 pound loggerhead sea turtle emerging from the ocean and slogging its way through the sand to dig a hole….what a sight to see.

6. Beaufort’s wildlife comes alive Spring brings more active wildlife in Beaufort. The great egrets come to nest and mate in the Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal, gators are on the move all over the area and dolphins are more frequently seen frolicking in the warmer local waters. Beaufort comes alive in the springtime.

5. Outdoor dining Beaufort has so many options for outdoor dining…many with fantastic waterfront views.

4. The wave of tourists in the area You can’t beat warm weather and sidewalks filled with tourists mingling with locals. Taking a walk just about anywhere in the area and seeing everyone in the sun (in flip flops?) is always a welcome sight after the weather warms up.

3. Festivals, festivals…and festivals Springtime brings Beaufort’s outdoor festival season with several held in Port Royal starting in mid-February and leading up to May’s Taste of Beaufort Festival at the downtown Waterfront. With so much history, culture and tradition here in Beaufort, we have lots of reasons to celebrate. Take a look at some of the Beaufort area’s larger festivals here…and make sure to attend so you can make memories that will last a lifetime.

2. Strawberry season One of our favorite local pastimes returns along with the upcoming spring season. The strawberry patches at our local farms are the stuff of legend and visiting them is a part of our lives. A visit to Dempsey or Barefoot Farms to pick a bucket of fresh local strawberries is a springtime tradition here in Beaufort. Find area farms and farm stands.

1. We’re closer to spending days in the sun at Hunting Island Spring’s impending arrival means that we aren’t far away from being able to enjoy a lazy afternoon strolling the beach, looking for shells or sitting in the sand and relaxing with a good book. Spending our warm-weather days at Hunting Island is one of the most popular pastimes here in Beaufort. Simply put…it’s what we do. Beaufort area beaches.

Spring is indeed one of the best times of the year in the Lowcountry.

Beaufort County may have dodged the ice and snow from Winter Storm Fern, but the cold weather is far from finished with the Lowcountry.

An arctic air mass has settled into the region, ushering in a stretch of bitterly cold nights that will linger through the week and into the weekend. While skies will often be sunny during the day, overnight temperatures will plunge well below freezing, creating cold conditions across the area.

Week-long forecast for Beaufort County

The National Weather Service says a cold weather advisory is in effect for southeast South Carolina from 10 p.m. Monday through 9 a.m. Tuesday, with additional advisories likely as the prolonged cold pattern continues.

Forecasters say overnight apparent temperatures are expected to drop into the upper teens to low 20s each night — unusually cold for the Lowcountry.

Monday will remain sunny in Beaufort County, with afternoon highs reaching the low 50s, though gusty west winds will make it feel cooler. Clear skies Monday night will allow temperatures to fall quickly, with lows dipping into the mid-20s.

The cold trend continues Tuesday, with sunshine and highs in the upper 40s, followed by another freezing night. Similar conditions are expected through midweek, as daytime temperatures hover near 50 degrees, but overnight lows remain at or below freezing.

By the end of the week, clouds will increase slightly, and a 20% chance of showers will arrive late Friday night.

NWS forecasters are currently watching the potential for rain and snow showers on Saturday, though chances remain low, around 20%. Saturday’s high is expected to struggle to reach the low 40s, with another freezing night to follow.

Conditions improve slightly on Sunday with sunshine returning, but temperatures will remain below seasonal norms, topping out in the mid-40s.

Warming shelters available

With these sub-freezing temperatures lasting all week, warming shelters are opening across Beaufort County for those in need.

Each shelter will operate nightly from Jan. 26 to Jan. 29, opening at 5:30 p.m. and closing at 8 a.m. the following morning.

For the latest forecast and updates for your area, visit the NWS webpage.