Filming & Production in Horry County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Location Permits
Horry County requires a special event/film permit for any video, film or still-photography shoot on public or private property, unless the crew is fifteen people or fewer, it's news coverage, or a student school project. Applicants must disclose the exact site address, tax map number, owner's written permission, filming hours and headcount, then notify neighbors within 300 feet at least 14 days before filming starts.
Horry County Film Permits Require Site Disclosure
Some RestrictionsHorry County Code § 13-36(a)(1), (b)
(a)(1)A special event permit is required for any film, video or still photography activity whether on public or private property, to be conducted within the county, with the exception that news coverage, students engaged in school projects, and production companies with a cast and crew totaling fifteen (15) persons or less do not require such a permit. ... (b)Site identification.(1)Prior to the...
Production Noise
Horry County limits commercial filming, including site work, staging and equipment moves, to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. unless the county administrator authorizes otherwise in writing. Explosives, pyrotechnics, fire or other special effects need a state fire marshal permit and written sign-off from the Horry County Fire Chief before a production may use them.
Horry County Filming Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Some RestrictionsHorry County Code § 13-36(c)
(c)Time limitations, noise, special effects, and explosives.(1)Filming, site work, preparation, and staging for filming may only occur within the hours of 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. unless otherwise authorized in writing by the county administrator or his/her designee.(2)Moving of equipment into or out of residential areas cannot occur outside of these time restrictions.(3)No filming activity which i...
Street Closures
Any street closure or traffic disruption tied to a Horry County film shoot requires an encroachment permit before the county will even issue the underlying film permit. Sec. 13-36(e) puts traffic control decisions, including whether officers are needed to keep vehicles moving, at the discretion of the county administrator or a designee.
Horry County Filming Street Closures Need Permit
Some RestrictionsHorry County Code § 13-36(e)
(e)Traffic control.(1)Any disruption in traffic, including street closures requires the issuance of an encroachment permit prior to the issuance of a filming permit.(2)Any required public safety officials needed to administer the orderly flow of traffic during filming or traffic disruptions shall be at the discretion of the county administrator or his designee.
Student Filming
Student filmmakers working on school projects don't need Horry County's special event/film permit at all. Sec. 13-36(a)(1) exempts them by name, alongside news coverage crews and any production whose paid cast and crew total fifteen people or fewer, from the permitting scheme that otherwise covers every video, film or still-photography shoot in the county.
Horry County Exempts Student Film Projects
Few RestrictionsHorry County Code § 13-36(a)(1)
(a)(1)A special event permit is required for any film, video or still photography activity whether on public or private property, to be conducted within the county, with the exception that news coverage, students engaged in school projects, and production companies with a cast and crew totaling fifteen (15) persons or less do not require such a permit. "Cast and crew" as used, shall refer to co...
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