Venue Rules

For groups desiring to rent a venue for an upcoming event:

• External groups – please submit a Venue Request Form
• Internal groups – please submit an EMS Reservation

Submission does not guarantee permission for use of the event venue. Please wait for a confirmation email from the Office of Event Management.

It is strictly prohibited to swim, jump off the docks, tamper with boats or boating equipment.  

Lifeguards are not provided; guests swim at their own risk.

Pets are not permitted inside the event venue or on the property. All service animals are welcome!

The Citadel faculty, staff, students, CAA Lifetime Members, and donors at specific levels for The Citadel Foundation and The Citadel Brigadier Foundation are allowed access to the beach walkway, boat ramp, dock area, and the restrooms accessed from the exterior of the event venue.

This access cannot be blocked, regardless of the rental event booked. All parties are expected to act with mutual respect and any issues should be promptly reported to the Office of Event Management.

Glassware may only be used inside the event venue. Breakable items (i.e. ceramic, china) are not allowed on the patio, lawn, courtyard, or pavilion. A $250 fee will be charged per instance of broken glass.

Nothing can be stapled, nailed, taped (i.e. scotch tape, command strips), or glued to the walls. Rice, sparklers, flower petals, birdseed, confetti, fog machines, and open flames are not allowed.

All rental items, decorations, and personal items must be removed after the event.

Furniture (i.e. banquet tables, chairs) is included but approved for indoor use only. Your must obtain permission from the Office of Event Management to move any tables and chairs to paved surfaces on the exterior of the event venue. No furniture is allowed on the lawn.

• Furniture will be set per the standard venue layout for all events occurring at most venues on campus. You are responsible for returning all furniture to the standard venue layout at the conclusion of the event. Failure to return all furniture to the proper location will result in additional fees.

• All furniture will be set per the approved floor plan submitted within 2 weeks prior to your event at The Citadel Beach Club, Buyer Auditorium, and Greater Issues Room.

Security is required for all events with alcohol service. A minimum of one officer per 100 guests is required, and officers will be scheduled from the start of the event until 30 minutes after the event ends. Additionally, security may be required for large events or events deemed by The Citadel to be high risk when alcohol is not served.

• Security must be provided by Public Safety Officers of The Citadel for all events occurring at venues on campus. The Office of Event Management will coordinate security in advance. You will be billed, with a four-hour minimum, for each Officer assigned to the event.
• Security must be provided by off-duty Isles of Palms Police Officers for all events occurring at The Citadel Beach Club. You will book and pay security through the Isle of Palms Police Department.

All food and beverage must be provided by an Approved Vendor of the Citadel. All alcoholic beverages must be supplied and served by TopShelf (The Citadel’s alcohol service contractor).

Alcoholic beverages may not be served to minors or anyone appearing to be intoxicated.

Alcohol may not be taken beyond the event venue property (including the beach at The Citadel Beach Club). Use of an unapproved food and beverage vendor will result in additional fees and immediate termination of the event.

The use of tobacco and smoking products of any type is prohibited, in accordance with The Citadel’s Tobacco Product Free-Campus Policy. This applies to the entire property, indoors and outdoors, of all campus facilities.

Guests in violation of this policy may be removed and barred from the property. Violation of this policy may result in additional fees and/or termination of the event.

All vehicles must be removed at the conclusion of the event. Vehicles that remain on property without permission from the Office of Event Management, are subject to ticketing and/or towing at the owner’s expense. Overtime charges will be billed to you at the rate of $200/hour.

The total rental time can be extended, with prior notice and payment, for $200 for the first hour and $50 for each additional hour.

Vendors and guests are not allowed on property before or after the contracted rental time.

Deliveries and pickups must occur during the contracted rental time, unless approved in advance by the Office of Event Management.

Wedding ceremonies performed on the grounds allow an additional hour of rental time and 90 minutes for a rehearsal. Rehearsal times will be scheduled based on availability and confirmed 30 days before the event.

A ceremony fee of $600 is assessed for this service.

A violation of these requirements may subject the client, vendors, and guests to a fine and court costs. The Citadel reserves the right to end events prior to the contracted end time in the case of warnings or violations.

To learn about current noise ordinances, contact the following:

• City of Charleston – (843) 724-3711 or www.charleston-sc.gov
• City of Isle of Palms – (843) 886-9912 or www.iop.net

Rentals are confirmed rain or shine.

Should hazardous weather occur, The Citadel reserves the right to mandate taking shelter, stop alcoholic beverage service, and/or terminate music until weather is deemed no longer a threat, or require quests to evacuate. The Citadel reserves the right to cancel events upon receipt of a National Weather Service advisory indicating a potential threat to the South Carolina coast. 

In the extreme case of cancellation by The Citadel due to a weather emergency, all efforts will be made to reschedule the event. The Office of Event Management will communicate any necessary event changes or cancellations due to a weather emergency.

All vendors providing services are required to possess a business license and proper insurance coverage. This vendor information must be on file with The Citadel at least 2 weeks before your event.

To obtain a business license, contact the following:

• City of Charleston – (843) 724-3711 or www.charleston-sc.gov
• City of Isle of Palms – (843) 886-9912 or www.iop.net

Specifications and requirements for any vendor using power, tenting or inflatable details, must also be included in the Venue Worksheet for approval by the Office of Event Management. Any unapproved changes or requests may result in additional fees or may not be accommodated or allowed to take place.

A executed Letter of Agreement and receipt of the non-refundable payment of $500 confirms your event date.

There is a $250 fee to change the date after the Letter of Agreement is signed.

To ensure things run smoothly on the day of your event, we require a designated point-of-contact/decision maker on the day of your event and a scheduled final walk-through with our onsite venue coordinator.

A completed Venue Worksheet is required at least 2 weeks prior to your event.

Users of The Citadel’s facilities for events not sponsored by The Citadel (i.e. meetings, parties, weddings, etc.) must be insured for liability. The insurance must include the following:

1. $3 Million per incident and $5 Million aggregate
2. The Citadel and State of South Carolina as additional insurers
3. Alcohol liability, if alcohol is served at the event

For corporate/company events, please speak to your company’s insurance agent or representative.  

For private parties, please explore different insurance companies that meet our requirements. But to help you get started, feel free to obtain a quote from TULIP, Eventsured, or Wedsure. These special event insurance policies have a $1 Million limit per incident. If you select $5 Million as the “Excess Coverage” or “Excess Liability,” The Citadel deems this amount as acceptable coverage.