Horry County, SC Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)
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.
Key Facts
- Separate garage ordinance
- None; treated as ADU
- New dwelling limit
- One ADU per parcel
- Approval
- Conditional use for ADU
- Owner occupancy
- Main home owner-occupied
- Permits
- Building permit required
Summary
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.
Accessory dwelling units within an existing principal dwelling or in a separate structure shall be a conditional use in all zoning districts where a principal single-family detached dwelling unit is permitted. No more than one (1) accessory dwelling unit per parcel.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
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.
Violations & Fines
An unpermitted conversion or illegal second dwelling can be ordered restored or vacated, and the owner may face building-code and zoning penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn my garage into an apartment to rent?
Is a permit needed just to finish a garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview
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