Garage conversion rules in Horry County, SC — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Horry County has no separate garage-conversion ordinance. Converting a garage into a separate dwelling triggers the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules: one unit per parcel, conditional-use approval, and an owner-occupied main home, plus a building permit.
The county zoning ordinance does not carve out a distinct 'garage conversion' category. If you convert a garage into a self-contained living unit, it is treated as an accessory dwelling unit, which is a conditional use only in districts allowing single-family detached homes, is limited to one per parcel, and requires the principal dwelling to be owner-occupied. Any habitable-space conversion also requires building permits and inspections under the county building code, and the property must still satisfy off-street parking and setback requirements. Converting a garage while keeping it part of the single household (no separate kitchen/dwelling) is generally a permit-and-inspection matter rather than an ADU. City limits (Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach) apply their own rules.
An unpermitted conversion or illegal second dwelling can be ordered restored or vacated, and the owner may face building-code and zoning penalties.
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