Fence Regulations in Horry County, SC (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Every fence in unincorporated Horry County must permit emergency access to the enclosed area, keep vehicular sight lines clear at intersections and driveways, and honor the ten-foot front privacy-fence setback. Height is capped at eight feet in residential districts.
Horry County Fence Rules: Access, Sight Lines and Setbacks
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 412.B.5
All fences or walls shall be designed to permit emergency access to the enclosed area, whether by use of gate or a breakaway section.
Fence Permit Requirements
Horry County requires a building permit before installing any fence or wall taller than seven feet anywhere in the unincorporated county, per Zoning Ordinance § 412.B.1. Applicants must submit a scaled site plan showing setbacks, locations and elevations, and the fence still has to fit inside required landscape buffers and allow emergency access.
Horry County: Fence Permit Required Over 7 Feet
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ord. App. B, art. IV, § 412(B)(1)-(3), (5)
B.Requirements.1)Apply for a building permit when fence is greater than seven (7) feet.2)Provide a scaled site plan indicating setbacks, locations and elevations for fences that are required to obtain building permits.3)Any use requiring privacy fence or wall must locate the fence or wall internal to any required landscape buffers.5)Emergency access. All fences or walls shall be designed to per...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Horry County sets no general side or rear property-line offset for fences, so a fence may sit on the shared line. But privacy fences in a front or corner side yard must be set back ten feet from lines abutting a road right-of-way or shared drive.
Fence Placement and Setbacks Near Property Lines
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 412.B.4.a
Privacy fences or walls in front and/or corner side yards shall meet ten-foot setbacks from front and corner side property lines that abut the road right-of-way or shared private drive.
Retaining Walls
Horry County's Zoning Ordinance treats walls alongside fences, so the eight-foot general height ceiling in Section 412 applies to freestanding walls. Structural retaining walls are additionally governed by the adopted building code, which requires a permit above a set retained height.
Retaining Walls Follow Fence and Building Code Rules
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 412.A
In all other zoning districts, fences or walls shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height.
Material Restrictions
Horry County allows a wide range of fence materials. The Zoning Ordinance singles out split rail, uncluttered chain link and picket fences under 50 percent opacity for a front-yard setback exemption, while solid privacy fences trigger the ten-foot front setback.
Allowed Fence Types: Split Rail, Chain Link, Picket, Privacy
Few RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 412.B.4.c
Non-privacy type fences such as split rail, uncluttered chain link and picket fences with less than fifty (50) percent opacity placed in front and/or corner side yards are exempt from setback requirements.
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