Tree Protection in Horry County, SC (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Protected Tree Species
Horry County protects 25 native tree species by name, from bald cypress and live oak to pecan and sycamore, once they reach a set trunk diameter. Removing a listed 'Protected' or 'Specimen' tree without Zoning Administrator sign-off triggers mandatory replacement trees or a per-tree fee under Zoning Ordinance § 505.
Horry County Protects 25 Tree Species From Removal
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ord. App. B, art. V, § 505(A)(3), (E); § 503(D)
3.Trees shall not be removed until submittal of tree survey. Approval to remove said trees, with exception of Specimen Live Oaks, shall be obtained from the Zoning Administrator, or designee. If approval to remove said tree is granted, removed trees shall be mitigated. ... E.Mitigation standards.1.Mitigation: Mitigation for removal of Protected or Specimen Trees is required. ... b)Fee in lieu.i...
Parkway Planting
Non-residential, multifamily, townhome and in-common residential projects fronting any road on Horry County's Table 1 corridor list, from US 17 to Carolina Bays Parkway, must plant a streetscape tree buffer under Zoning Ordinance §§ 501.B and 504.C, on top of the county's ordinary landscape and buffer rules.
Horry County Street-Tree Buffers on Major Roads
Some RestrictionsHorry County Zoning Ord. App. B, art. V, § 501(B); § 504(C)(3), Table 4
B.Non-residential, multifamily, quadraplex, townhome, and in-common residential projects that are located along Table 1: Applicable Roads must meet the Tree Preservation Standards set in § 505 in addition to the required landscape plantings set by § 504. ... Type C: External Road Streetscape Requirement for Major Residential Development, Multi-Family, Quadruplex, Townhome, & In-common Residenti...
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