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

Under the county's film ordinance, County Code § 13.8-191, a permit is required for any filming activity conducted on public or private property within Georgetown County where the resulting product is intended to be viewed, marketed, distributed or sold to the public, regardless of the medium. No permit is required for news or press coverage, bona fide student school projects, or a production with a cast and crew of three persons or fewer, though the county administrator decides what counts toward that headcount. Any filming that requires closing a road or public property always needs a permit, no exceptions apply.

Applications must be submitted at least five business days before filming begins, are reviewed with no maximum review period, and are finally approved by the county administrator or a designee. The application and permit fee is $200.00 per submission; using county-owned facilities or requiring county staff support adds further fees. Under § 13.8-192, applicants must disclose the exact filming site, base camp and storage locations by address, tax map number and zoning district, property owner permission, filming hours and duration, personnel counts, and any activity likely to cause public alarm such as pyrotechnics or gunfire.

Sites on the Waccamaw Neck trigger a 24-hour hand-delivered notice to neighbors within 500 feet after a permit issues. Violations under § 13.8-203 are misdemeanors carrying a $500.00 fine and/or 30 days in jail per occurrence, with separate citations possible for each day a violation continues, and the county administrator or Sheriff can shut down noncompliant filming on the spot.