Horry County, SC Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard required
- 2 feet above base flood elevation
- Basements
- Not permitted in flood zones
- Accessory building cap
- 600 sq ft vehicles / 150 sq ft storage
- Stop-work violation
- Up to $500 fine, 30 days jail
- Enforcing office
- Local floodplain administrator
Summary
New construction and substantial improvement of residential structures in Horry County's special flood hazard areas must have the lowest floor elevated at least two feet above base flood elevation, with no basements allowed. Non-residential buildings face the same freeboard or must be engineer-certified as floodproofed. The floodplain administrator enforces these standards under Code Sec. 9-52.
New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) shall have the lowest floor elevated no lower than two (2) feet above the base flood elevation. No basements are permitted. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate a structure, flood openings sufficient to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces, shall be provided in accordance with the elevated buildings requirements in subsection (4) below.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).
Full Breakdown
Horry County Code Sec. 9-52 sets the freeboard standard for every zone A, AE, AH, AO or A1-30 area shown on the FEMA flood maps. Residential structures, including manufactured homes, must sit with the lowest floor two feet above base flood elevation, and basements are barred outright. If solid perimeter walls elevate the building, flood vents are required: a minimum of two openings on different walls, one square inch of net opening for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding, with the bottom of each opening no higher than one foot above grade.
Non-residential buildings meet the same two-foot freeboard or may be floodproofed instead, but a registered engineer or architect must certify the design and the county requires an annual maintenance-plan exercise. C. Code Sec. 40-29-10. Accessory structures in AE and A zones can skip elevation if flood-vented, built of flood-resistant material, and capped at 600 square feet for vehicle or boat storage or 150 square feet for equipment storage. Floodways bar new fill and construction entirely unless an engineer certifies zero increase in flood levels or FEMA issues a conditional letter of map revision.
Violations & Fines
Work that departs from an approved floodplain development permit can draw a stop-work order from the local floodplain administrator under Sec. 9-35(b); ignoring it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of as much as $500, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The administrator can also revoke a permit outright for false statements, misrepresentation, or a substantial departure from the approved plans under Sec. 9-35(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
How high above base flood elevation must a new Horry County home sit?
Can I build a basement in a Horry County flood zone?
What happens if I build below the required elevation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
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