Outdoor Lighting in Horry County, SC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Horry County has no dedicated dark-sky or sea-turtle lighting ordinance, but Zoning Ordinance Section 410 requires brighter fixtures to be full-cutoff or shielded so light is not aimed skyward, onto roadways, or into neighbors' windows. Grand Strand residents are also urged to keep beachfront lights out during turtle season.
Outdoor Lighting & Dark-Sky Rules in Horry County
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ord. Sec. 410 (Light and glare)
Light fixtures in excess of one hundred (100) watts or two hundred (200) lumens shall be full-cutoff or directionally shielded and shall be aimed and controlled so that light ... does not project into the windows of neighboring residences, adjacent uses, past the object being illuminated, skyward, or onto a public roadway.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Horry County Zoning Ordinance Section 410 caps light spillover: no activity may cause illumination exceeding one (1) footcandle across any residential lot line in a residential district. Lighting that substantially interferes with a neighbor's use of their property is prohibited.
Light Trespass & Glare Limits in Horry County
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ord. Sec. 410 (Light and glare)
In all districts, any operation or activity which produces light or glare, except for cars, trucks, and other vehicles traveling on highways, streets, or railways, shall not cause illumination in excess of one (1) footcandle across any residential lot line in any residential district.
Billboard Lighting
Horry County bans unshielded floodlights, beacons, spotlights and searchlights on any sign, including billboards, under Zoning Ordinance § 603.A. No more than one foot-candle of that illumination may be detectable at the boundary of a neighboring property.
Horry County: No Floodlights or Beacons on Signs
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ord. App. B, art. VI, § 603(A)(1)-(2)
A.Traffic hazards and sign illumination.1.No flood lights shall be utilized as a part of a sign illumination system which are not hooded or shielded so that the light source is not visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property nor shall any sign otherwise reflect or emit a glaring light so as to impair driver vision.2.No sign illumination system shall contain or utilize any beacon, ...
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