Public Conduct in Horry County, SC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Horry County parks are smoke-free except in areas the recreation department specifically designates for it. Code § 14-15.5(a)(13) declares cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vape pens and e-cigarettes a public nuisance at county parks and recreational facilities, backed by the Code's nuisance-tier penalty.
Smoking Banned in Horry County Parks
Some RestrictionsHorry County Code § 14-15.5(a)(13)
(13)Except in designated areas, the use of smoke-producing tobacco or nicotine products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vape pens, or e-cigarettes, is considered a public nuisance and is prohibited at the parks.
Public Marijuana Use
Horry County does not have a stand-alone public marijuana-use ban, but its beach ordinance reaches the same conduct: Code § 5-14(c) makes it unlawful to engage in any aquatic activity, or any activity at all, on the beach or a public access while under the influence of marijuana, alongside alcohol or other narcotics, or while behaving recklessly there.
Horry County Bans Marijuana Use on Beaches, in Water
Some RestrictionsHorry County Code § 5-14(c)
No person shall engage in any aquatic activity or activities on the beach or public access while intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotic drug, barbiturate or marijuana, nor shall any person engage in reckless behavior or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person while in the water, on the beach or on a public access.
Public Alcohol Use
In unincorporated Horry County, from Socastee to Little River, it is unlawful to carry an opened container of any alcoholic beverage in a public place not licensed for on-premises drinking. Public beaches and beach accesses go further: possessing or consuming any liquor, beer, or wine there is banned outright, closed container or not.
Horry County Bans Open Containers and Beach Alcohol
Significant RestrictionsHorry County Code §§ 13-1, 5-2
No person shall possess in any public place not licensed for on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages any opened container of any alcoholic beverage. ... Possession or consumption of an alcoholic liquor, beer or wine is prohibited on the public beaches or public beach accesses. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or consume any alcoholic liquors, beer, ale, porter, wine or any ...
All Horry County ordinances
See every category we cover for Horry County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Horry County Ordinance Hub →