Environmental Rules in Horry County, SC (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Any land-disturbing activity in unincorporated Horry County needs a county stormwater permit before work starts. Code § 17.7-28 bars disturbing land without stormwater management measures, and § 17.7-30 makes it unlawful to discharge anything but clean stormwater into the county's drainage system, streets or rights-of-way.
Horry County Stormwater Permits for Land-Disturbing Work
Significant RestrictionsHorry County Code § 17.7-28(a)-(b)
(a)No person shall conduct any land-disturbing activities without having provided for appropriate stormwater management measures that control or manage runoff, in compliance with this article, unless exempted in section 17.7-30.(b)The provisions of this article shall apply throughout the unincorporated areas in Horry County, South Carolina.
Erosion Control
Every stormwater permit application in unincorporated Horry County must include a sediment and erosion control plan built to the state's construction general permit standard. Code § 17.7-47(f) requires the plan before ground is disturbed, and § 17.7-46 bans discharges like concrete washout and fuel spills from any construction site.
Erosion & Sediment Control Plans in Horry County
Significant RestrictionsHorry County Code § 17.7-47(f)
(f)Sediment and erosion control plan. A sediment and erosion control plan consistent with the most recent version of SCDHEC's construction general permit (CGP) must be submitted with all stormwater permit applications. All erosion/sediment control practices details, vegetative stabilization details and standard notes shall be included. The Horry County Stormwater Design Manual includes specific...
Flood Zones
Horry County requires a development permit before any construction, fill, or land alteration in FEMA-mapped special flood hazard areas, based on the county's December 2021 flood insurance study. Building or altering land without one is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.
Horry County Floodplain Development Permit Required
Significant RestrictionsHorry County Code §§ 9-5, 9-6, 9-11
This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the county as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its flood insurance study, dated December 16, 2021 with accompanying maps and other supporting data that are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. ... A development permit shall be required in conf...
Boat Dock Permits
Building, repairing or altering a private dock anywhere in unincorporated Horry County requires conforming to Section 918 of the zoning ordinance. Docks are capped at two permanently moored boats, one dock per residential lot, a 10-foot side setback, and 20 feet of separation from the next dock.
Horry County Noncommercial Dock Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ordinance § 918(A)-(B)
A.Applicability.1.It shall be unlawful to build, construct, repair or alter any noncommercial dock or portion thereof in the county without conforming to this section.2.Non-commercial boat docks are allowed under the following conditions:a)No noncommercial dock shall be designed or constructed to accommodate more than two (2) boats for permanent mooring. No residentially zoned lot shall have mo...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvement of residential structures in Horry County's special flood hazard areas must have the lowest floor elevated at least two feet above base flood elevation, with no basements allowed. Non-residential buildings face the same freeboard or must be engineer-certified as floodproofed. The floodplain administrator enforces these standards under Code Sec. 9-52.
Horry County: 2-Foot Freeboard Above Flood Elevation
Some RestrictionsHorry County Code § 9-52(1)
New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) shall have the lowest floor elevated no lower than two (2) feet above the base flood elevation. No basements are permitted. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate a structure, flood openings sufficient to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces, shall be provided ...
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