Hilton Head Police, Fire and EMS
Hilton Head Island has no town police force: Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies patrol the island, and the Town’s own Fire Rescue answers fire and medical calls from seven stations. In an emergency, call 911.
Who Polices Hilton Head Island
70 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
The Sheriff’s main island office, beside the Senior Center off William Hilton Parkway. Open to the public weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for reports and records.
6 Lagoon Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
A small office in Coligny Plaza, opened in August 2026, that puts deputies near Coligny Beach and the south end’s shops and restaurants.
The Town of Hilton Head Island has never had its own police department. It contracts with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies patrol the island, answer calls and investigate crimes here as they do in the rest of the county. Hilton Head’s police, in other words, are the Sheriff’s deputies.
The gated communities, Sea Pines and Hilton Head Plantation among them, run their own security staff for the gates, passes and patrols inside, but crimes are still the Sheriff’s to handle. In August 2026 the Sheriff opened a satellite office in Coligny Plaza, a short walk from Coligny Beach, the island’s busiest.
Non-Emergency Numbers
| For | Call |
|---|---|
| Sheriff non-emergency dispatch | 843-524-2777 |
| Sheriff’s Hilton Head office | 843-255-3300 |
| Fire Rescue headquarters (non-emergency) | 843-682-5100 |
| Noise, trash or parking at a vacation rental | STR hotline, 843-341-6864 |
| Town Hall | 843-341-4600 |
Use the Sheriff’s non-emergency line for a noise complaint, a minor accident with no injuries, a found bike or anything else that needs a deputy but not right now. The rental hotline is the Town’s, for problems at a short-term rental.
Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue
10 Park Ln, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Administration, permits and ambulance billing for the Town’s fire department and EMS. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Hilton Head fire department is Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue, a department of the Town. Its crews answer fires and medical calls, and its ambulances carry patients to the hospital, so the island’s EMS is Fire Rescue too. It also runs the island’s 911 Communications Center.
Headquarters is at 10 Park Lane, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (843-682-5100). Fire Rescue issues burn permits and food-truck permits, handles ambulance billing, and lends community rooms at its stations.
Hilton Head Fire Stations
| Station | Area | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Station 1 | Shipyard | 70 Cordillo Pkwy |
| Station 2 | Sea Pines | 65 Lighthouse Rd |
| Station 3 | Mid-island | 534 William Hilton Pkwy |
| Station 4 | Hilton Head Plantation, back gate | 400 Squire Pope Rd |
| Station 5 | Hilton Head Plantation, front gate | 20 Whooping Crane Way |
| Station 6 | Palmetto Dunes entrance | 12 Dalmatian Ln |
| Station 7 | Cross Island Parkway | 1001 Marshland Rd |
Every station is staffed around the clock. Fire Rescue’s training center is at 75 Dillon Road and the 911 Communications Center at 21 Oak Park Drive.
Crime and Safety on Hilton Head
Most visitors never need a deputy. The everyday advice is the same as any beach town: lock the car and bikes, keep bags and phones out of sight at beach parking lots, and lock a rental’s doors and sliders at night. For safety in the water, see Hilton Head beaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hilton Head have a police department?
No. The Town of Hilton Head Island contracts with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies patrol the island.
What is the non-emergency number on Hilton Head?
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s non-emergency dispatch line, 843-524-2777. For an emergency, call 911.
Where is the Sheriff’s Office on Hilton Head?
At 70 Shelter Cove Lane, mid-island, open to the public weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A satellite office opened in Coligny Plaza in August 2026.
Who runs EMS on Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue, the Town’s fire department, runs the island’s ambulances as well as fire service.
How many fire stations are on Hilton Head?
Seven, all staffed 24 hours a day, from Sea Pines at the south end to Squire Pope Road at the north.
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