Horry County, SC Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed ban
- None in county or state
- Standard
- Behavior-based dangerous-animal rule
- Citation
- S.C. Code § 47-3-720
- Confinement
- Locked, securely enclosed pen
- Vicious dog
- Magistrate hearing under § 4-10
Summary
Horry County has no breed-specific ordinance, and South Carolina bars local breed bans. Any dog can be declared "dangerous" based on its behavior, and a dangerous animal must be kept securely confined on the owner's premises.
No person owning or harboring or having the care or the custody of a dangerous animal may permit the animal to go unconfined on his premises.
Full Breakdown
Neither Chapter 4 nor South Carolina law bans specific breeds such as pit bulls. Instead, S.C. Code § 47-3-710 defines a "dangerous animal" by conduct: an animal that the owner knows, or reasonably should know, has a propensity to attack unprovoked or endanger safety. Section 47-3-720 requires such an animal to be confined securely indoors or in a locked, enclosed pen, and § 47-3-730 bars letting it beyond the premises unless safely restrained. Under Horry County Code § 4-10, a magistrate who finds an animal vicious after a hearing may order it impounded or humanely disposed of; the owner gets ten days' notice and the right to an attorney.
Violations & Fines
Failing to confine a declared dangerous animal violates state law; the county magistrate can impound or order humane disposal of a vicious animal after a hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pit bulls banned in Horry County?
What happens to a dog declared vicious?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
How Horry County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina animal ordinances overview
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