Horry County, SC Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Horry County, SC, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Small-shed reduced setback
- 5 feet side/rear
- Size cap for reduction
- 200 square feet or less
- Number at reduced setback
- One structure only
- Easements
- No structures inside easements
- Placement
- Not forward of home
Summary
One small accessory structure (200 square feet or less) at a single-family home may sit as close as 5 feet from a side or rear property line. Larger or additional sheds must meet the full district setbacks, and none may sit in an easement.
One (1) accessory structure at a single family residence, two hundred (200) square feet or less in size, may be located no closer than five (5) feet from an adjacent side and/or rear property line and further provided that no accessory structure may be located within any easement.
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 Horry County Zoning Ordinance (accessory buildings, structures and uses) lets a single-family residence have one accessory structure of 200 square feet or less located no closer than 5 feet from an adjacent side or rear line. Any additional accessory structures must meet the district's standard setbacks. No accessory structure may be placed within any recorded easement, and accessory uses may not be located forward of the principal structure. An accessory building must be incidental and subordinate to the principal dwelling on the same lot. A principal structure must exist first; accessory structures generally cannot stand alone. Building permits are required for larger structures under the county building code.
Violations & Fines
Structures encroaching setbacks or easements, or built without required permits, can be ordered removed or relocated, and the owner may face code-enforcement penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my fence can a small shed go?
Do I need a permit for a shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
How Horry County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview
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