Horry County, SC Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Sec. 13-36 of the Horry County Code treats commercial filming as a special event needing a film permit from the county administrator's office, filed at least 45 days before shooting starts; the administrator may accept a late application only for exceptional circumstances. There is no permit fee itself, though the county can charge for metered parking, use of county facilities or county staff time at the administrator's discretion. Before a permit issues, the applicant must disclose the exact filming site (address and tax map number), the property owner's name and written consent, the anticipated filming hours and number of days, a description of the activity, contact information for the person in charge, the full cast-and-crew count, any activity that could cause public alarm (animals, pyrotechnics, gunfire, low-flying vehicles), the parking plan, needed traffic control, and expected site disturbances.

At least 14 days before filming, the production must give written notice covering that same information to every business and resident within 300 feet of the site, and hand the county a copy as proof. All required business licenses must be obtained before filming begins. Any alteration of county-owned property or a public right-of-way needs the administrator's prior consent, and permits run for the length of the shoot but never longer than six months, including setup and strike. A person within the notification area, or anyone else with standing, can appeal a permit decision to the county administrator within 10 days of the decision being posted on the county's website.