FAQs
- Why are the Covenants important?
- I share ownership of my property with one or more partners, family members or a corporation. How do I assure that each member receives member services?
- Do I need to inform KICA of changes in ownership for my property?
- How do I get a decal or pass for my personal use?
- How do I get a gate pass for my family members, guests or service personnel?
- How can I keep up with important news about KICA?
- How can I be an active member of my community?
- Where can I get a document notarized?
- What are my assessments used for?
- Why do I pay an amenity assessment for the Sandcastle when I don't use it?
- What is the Sandcastle Community Center initiation fee?
- When I bought my property I paid a Contribution to Reserves fee. What is that?
- My property is in its own sub-association. Why do I pay separate and additional assessments for that?
- What does the Sandcastle Community Center have to offer, and how can I obtain my membership card?
- Where can I launch or store my boat, or find crabbing and fishing sites?
- Where can I park to visit the beach?
- Where are the boardwalks/beach accesses for disabled persons?
- How can I get my initial mailbox or have an existing one painted or repaired?
- What do I need to know about landscaping my property?
- Where can I get referrals for contractors?
Why are the Covenants important?
During the closing process for your Kiawah property, you were given a set of Covenants that help govern Kiawah Island. (If you were not given this important document at closing, please contact a member services representative.) The Covenants, also called the governing documents, describe in great detail your rights and responsibilities (assessments, voting, etc.), as well as KICA’s rights, obligations and services This welcome guide and a copy of our Rules and Regulations Handbook (also on this CD), a companion to the Covenants, should further assist you. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these documents.
I share ownership of my property with one or more
partners, family members or a corporation. How do I assure that each
member receives member services?
Please use the form entitled Joint Owners of a Single Property found in the Special Forms section of this packet to provide the names and contact information for all members listed on a deed, partnership agreement, stock agreement or other legal ownership documentation. This is important because when you purchase property, your closing attorney, if local, will typically provide KICA with your ownership information. In many cases, they provide only the name of the first party listed on the deed (this becomes the primary member). In order for KICA to recognize all members, we must be informed that there is more than one owner of a property. Many new members provide a copy of their closing statements or deeds directly to KICA, but these typically contain address, phone and e-mail information. Attorneys unfamiliar with Kiawah may not send the documentation at all, making it all the more important that you contact us to verify your ownership records.
Do I need to inform KICA of changes in ownership for my property?
Yes. Changes in ownership could be affected by things like marriage, divorce, death, creation of a trust, addition of children to the deed, etc. Each member is responsible for informing KICA of such changes when they occur. In most cases, legal documentation verifying the change will be needed.
How do I get a decal or pass for my personal use?
Member decals and bar code decals may be obtained from a member services representative at the administrative office. You may bring your current registration(s) to the office, located at 23 Beachwalker Drive, or call toll free at 866-226-1770 or locally at 843-768-9194. You can also fax a copy of your vehicle registration or bill of sale to us at 843-768-4019 with a cover letter indicating any cars you might have replaced and where you would like your decal mailed. You may apply for a decal and pass renewals through the member portal.
There is a replacement fee of $25 when a new decal is issued to replace a current decal that is not returned (either whole or in pieces) and a $4 replacement fee for bar codes not returned (either whole or in pieces).
For your protection, the round decals are replaced every two years. A current decal is required for entry through the security gate or to acquire a bar code decal. Each member family (i.e., when a property is jointly owned) may receive up to three decals or bar code decals at no charge; each additional decal is $25 and $4 for each bar code decal. The bar code decals allow you to access the automated gates at the main and Vanderhorst gates, as well as Rhett’s Bluff. Eligible vehicles must be registered in the name of the member.
If you drive a leased or company-owned vehicle, please provide a copy of the lease and a written verification from the company stating you are the sole driver of the company-owned vehicle. This statement must be on company letterhead and signed by a principal of the company. Dependent children (under 18 or full-time students under 23) of members may receive decals. Immediate family members who reside with the member may receive a decal. Nondependent children who do not reside on Kiawah are not eligible for decals. Immediate family members and dependents that do not live full-time with the member may be issued a guest pass by calling the main gate at 843-768-5566. Decals will be issued to members with accounts in good standing. Please remember to remove the decal should you sell, trade-in or transfer use of your vehicle, or are no longer a member. If you normally fly into Charleston and rent a car, you can be issued a paper pass by calling the main security gate at 843-768-5566.
How do I get a gate pass for my family members, guests or service personnel?
Since Kiawah Island is a private community, you will need to notify the main security gate when you are expecting service personnel or guests. We ask that you request your pass at least 24 hours in advance. Please call the main gate at 843-768-5566, toll free at 866-596-7184 or fax your request to 843-768-1670. Service personnel are required to have a TOKI business license to work on the island. This may be obtained by contacting the Town of Kiawah Island at 843-768-9166. Generally, service personnel may work Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work is not permitted on Sundays or holidays.
Guest/visitor passes may be requested seven days a week by calling 843-768-5566 or faxing 843-768-1670. Please provide your name, address, telephone number, guest's name, expected time of arrival and length of stay. You may also direct a letter containing this information to the Administrative Office, 23 Beachwalker Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455. For the protection of all members, please do not request a guest pass for your service personnel.
The following people may authorize personal guest access:
KICA members and family members (18 years and older) who reside with members, Long-term renters of nine months or more who have completed a lease and a KICA lease addendum (upon payment of a deposit), and Kiawah Island rental guests.
Personal guests of the above may not authorize access. Also, contractors and businesspersons who are not members may not authorize anyone on the island as a guest.
Service Personnel:
You may request service personnel passes by contacting the commercial pass office, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 843-768-8240. On weekends or after 3:30 p.m., please call the main gate at 843-768-5566 or fax to 843-768-1670. Please remember that the commercial pass office is only manned during the normal workweek, so if you need a weekend pass, please call or fax using the weekend/evening number.
How can I keep up with important news about KICA?
KICA provides several methods for members to stay informed like board actions, budgets, policies and events. Board meetings are held every other month, and are open to members.
Kiawah Island Digest, KICA's official news publication, is published monthly. Our Web site, www.kica.us, will keep you up-to-date on current happenings. The Web site also provides archives of past board minutes, newsletters, rules, and useful forms such as decal applications. From the Web site, you can subscribe to the member’s Internet mail list. This free e-mail service lets you communicate with other members on any number of topics of your choosing, from rental programs to bird watching to classifieds!
How can I be an active member of my community?
Let KICA know of your interests by filling out an Interest Inventory form, which can be obtained either from the Special Forms section of this packet or from the Web site and returned to the administrative office. Nonresident members are often able to participate in meetings via conference call or by providing specialized assistance on various projects.
There are various volunteer committees which help in the research and development of policies and programs and allow members to be an integral part of their community. These include:
KICA VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES (meet monthly unless otherwise noted):
- Adopt-a-Trail:
Care for a section of leisure trail. Meet as needed. - Community Center:
Considers any potential social, health and wellness programs. - Community Services:
Considers community-building events, education, volunteer recruitment and appreciation. - Digest Production:
Contributes articles and photographs, conducts interviews for monthly newsletter. Meet quarterly, with monthly e-mail work. - Finance:
Assist COO with annual budget, investments and long-range financial plans. - Human Resources:
Assist COO with human resource issues, salary and benefit items for association staff. - Land and Lakes:
Considers common property land and lakes management, including water quality and national wildlife certification. Meet every other month. - Major Repair:
Assist COO with infrastructure management to preserve the association's assets and make recommendations for upcoming years. - Member Appeals:
Make recommendations on member appeals relative to compliance and quality of life. Meet as needed. - Native Plant Rescue:
Rescues native plans from undeveloped lots prior to construction beginning. Meet as needed. - Pride of Community:
Ensures covenant compliance for aesthetics and maintenance of residential properties. - Security and Safety:
Considers the islands access, disaster planning, rules and regulations, emergency response, safety and traffic. - Strategic Planning:
Considers the future needs of the island and makes their recommendations. Meet at least quarterly.
>> Return to top of page...
Where can I get a document notarized?
Several KICA staff members are notaries and will gladly notarize your
documents free of charge, upon presentation of identification. The Town
of Kiawah also has notaries on staff. Notaries are available at 23
Beachwalker Drive, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What are my assessments used for?
Annual assessments are required by the Covenants and are levied against each member's property in January. General assessments are used for the maintenance and operation of things like security, roads, leisure trails, landscaping and insurance, to name a few. The amenity assessment is for recreational operations. A segment assessment is applied to properties behind the second (Vanderhorst) security gate, and is used solely for the upkeep and operations of that gate. Members' owning undeveloped properties pay half the amount a developed property is charged. Property status changes from undeveloped to developed at the time a building permit is issued, and the member is charged the difference at that time. Status change charges apply to the general assessment, amenity assessment, segment assessment, Sandcastle Community Center initiation fee, and the Contribution to Reserves fee. (Further information regarding assessments may be found in the Article V of the Community Association Covenants.)
Why do I pay an amenity assessment for the Sandcastle when I don't use it?
In the same way that the general assessment supports the common properties and is shared by all members, whether or not they use them, the amenity assessment is used solely for the maintenance and operations of the Sandcastle Community Center and swimming pool, whether or not one uses that facility. It is paid for in common by all members and contributes to the overall value of your property.
What is the Sandcastle Community Center initiation fee?
The Sandcastle Community Center initiation fee was approved by the membership in 1994 as a one-time per property special assessment to fund the construction of the Sandcastle Community Center, built in 1996. Since then, purchasers of properties, which were not previously assessed (e.g. lots in new subdivision areas) are required to pay an amount equal to the amount of the current annual assessment. Again, if a building permit is taken out, the member will be billed for The Sandcastle Community Center from the prorated balance.
When I bought my property I paid a Contribution to Reserves fee. What is that? The Contribution to Reserves fee is a fee paid at closing by the purchaser (applicable each time a property sells). For an improved or unimproved property, it is 0.50 percent of the sale price, or an amount equal to the current annual assessment, whichever is higher. This money is placed into KICA's reserve funds. The money is regulated by the covenants as to what it can be used for. These reserves can help with annual major projects or purchases.
My property is in its own sub-association. Why do I pay separate and additional assessments for that?
Villas, condominiums, and cottages are often referred to as "regimes" (a legal reference to the term used in the state's "Horizontal Property Act" that guides condominiums). Several single-family home areas such as The Settlement, Turtle Beach and Ocean Oaks are also sub-associations. Each has its own board of directors and typically a management company and members of a regime are charged an assessment to cover facilities common only to that regime. These may vary among regimes, but might include things like insurance on the building and landscaping within the regime’s common properties. Your regime management company can provide specifics. Please refer to the separate list in this guide for contacts.
>> Return to top of page...
What does the Sandcastle Community Center have to offer, and how can I obtain my membership card?
The Sandcastle Community Center opened in 1996 as a place for association members to meet, exercise, and enjoy recreational activities. The swimming pool and surrounding area was renovated in 2000, providing members with an expansive pool facility accommodating lap swimming, water aerobics, summer pool activity, and children’s swimming. 2005 brought a fresh look to the upstairs event rooms, catering kitchen, and library, transforming the Sandcastle into a premier event facility. Then, in 2007, a complete reconstruction of the first floor facilities, including weight and aerobics rooms, restrooms and showers, lending library, and staff offices were unveiled to enthusiastic members on Memorial Day weekend.
Today’s Sandcastle may look quite a bit different than it did in 1996, but it still provides an attractive gathering place for members, their guests, and community groups. The facility is located at 1 Shipwatch Road, on the left side of the roundabout at the road’s end. Nearby places of interest include the Straw Market and KIGR Cougar Point golf course and clubhouse. Sandcastle access is restricted to KICA members and their authorized guests, identified by a member or guest card issued at the center. Each primary member household may receive a pass through payment of the annual amenity assessment. Through payment of the annual amenity fee, secondary members of jointly-owned properties may obtain either monthly or yearly household access to the Sandcastle. Please contact the Sandcastle staff at 843-768-3875, or e-mail Sandcastle@kica.us for assistance.
The Sandcastle is open seven days per week with hours that vary by season. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the pool is open to members and their guests, with pool attendants on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the summer, the Castle Grille operates poolside for members' enjoyment, offering a variety of delicious lunches, snacks, sweet treats, and beverages. Wine and beer are available for purchase at the Grille every day excluding Sunday. The Sandcastle’s interior includes a lending library and reading area, meeting spaces, a catering kitchen, wireless internet and a fitness facility with cardio equipment, weight machines, free weights, and a variety of fitness classes taught by certified instructors. Throughout the year, the Sandcastle holds a variety of events, including educational lectures, social gatherings, and special interest events. To view the Sandcastle’s event schedule and details, visit the community calendar.
>> Return to top of page...
Where can I launch or store my boat, or find crabbing and fishing sites?
The Rhett's Bluff Boat Landing, located at the end of the Kiawah Island Parkway just through the Vanderhorst security gate, provides fine fishing and crabbing. Additionally, boats may be launched from the Rhett's Bluff area as well as from Eagle Point in The Preserve; there are canoe and kayak storages at Cinder Creek Pavilion. Deposit and user fees are required for launches and/or canoe storage. Contact KICA accounting at 843-768- 9194 or toll-free at 866-226-1770, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during evenings and weekends, please contact the Sandcastle at 843-768-3875 for details. Please note the Rhett's Bluff, Eagle Point, and Cinder Creek facilities are restricted to KICA members only. Your guests may gain access when accompanied by you. Some of the most popular areas for crabbing/fishing are The Preserve at Cinder Creek Pavilion Area, Willet Pond, Canvasback Pond, Pintail Pond and Ibis Pond.
Please use care when crabbing, and do not feed the alligators. This causes them to lose their natural fear of humans and often necessitates their destruction.
KICA presently has no boat storage facilities, although KDP/KRA may, subject to space, fees and rules. Contact Jacob Kramer at 843-768-5304 or via e-mail at Jacob_Kramer@kiawahisland.com.
Where can I park to visit the beach?
KICA provides several parking areas for our beach-going members: the Sandcastle Community Center parking lot, opposite the Beach Club on Ocean Marsh Drive, on Ocean Course Drive by the fire house and behind the Ocean Course Club House. Some lots are restricted for member usage, and are not available for guests – please note the posted signage.
Where are the boardwalks/beach accesses for disabled persons?
Ramps can be found on the boardwalks at the following locations:
- Beachwalker County Park
- Duneside Villas between #1116 & #1118
- East end of the former Kiawah Island Inn adjacent to the east end of Sandcastle Community Center
- Eugenia Avenue between #21 & #23, #41 & #43A, #51 & #53
- Night Heron Park
- Windswept Villas #5100
- End of Turtle Beach Lane between #9
Nicklaus & #10 Surfsong Road
- between #54 & #57 Surfsong Road
- between #62 Surfsong Road & #71 Forestay Court
- between #75 Forestay & #88 Jackstay Court
- between #113 & #121
- Flyway Drive at 208 Sand
Fiddler Court
Mailboxes are located on KICA property, on the right-of-way in front of your home. Therefore, KICA provides such routine mailbox maintenance as straightening, tightening, and painting mailboxes. If your mailbox is in need of attention and your area is not currently scheduled, we will provide mailbox paint, post stain and letters at no charge. Contact a member services representative for assistance at 843-768-9194.
If you need a new mailbox installed, as part of new home construction, KICA maintenance will handle the construction & installation for $250. It will take approximately 2 weeks to complete the installation process. For further information, please contact KICA maintenance at 843-768-2315.
What do I need to know about landscaping my property?
A copy of the Landscape Management Guidelines for Association Members is available on our website, www.kica.us/land.htm. The KICA Land and Lakes Committee, the Pride of Community Committee, the ARB, KICA biologists, horticulturists and agronomists, and the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy are here for the purpose of protecting Kiawah’s natural habitat and for the education of sound environmental practices. KICA is a member of the National Wildlife Federation and is nearing competition of its goal to have the entire island certified as a habitat.
You may also contact the ARB at 843-768-3419, and the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy 843-768-2029 directly for information. KINHC has an award-winning video available as well as a document called Landscaping for the Legacy, which will provide vital information about living in harmony with our natural surroundings. Landscaping for the Legacy is available at the KINHC offices at 80 Kestrel Court or on their website at www.kiawahconservancy.org.
Where can I get referrals for contractors?
The staff at the Town of Kiawah Island (TOKI) 843-768-9166 can tell you whether specific contractors hold a valid Kiawah Island business license. When dealing with contractors regulated by various professional associations, such as builders, for your protection we recommend that you verify license information and insurance before work begins.