Horry County, SC Filming & Production: Production Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Filming hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Equipment moves in residential areas
- same hours only
- Pyrotechnics
- need State Fire Marshal permit
- Special effects
- Fire Chief must approve in writing
- Penalty
- $500 fine and/or 30 days jail
- Hydrant water use
- needs Fire Chief approval
Summary
Horry County limits commercial filming, including site work, staging and equipment moves, to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. unless the county administrator authorizes otherwise in writing. Explosives, pyrotechnics, fire or other special effects need a state fire marshal permit and written sign-off from the Horry County Fire Chief before a production may use them.
(c)Time limitations, noise, special effects, and explosives.(1)Filming, site work, preparation, and staging for filming may only occur within the hours of 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. unless otherwise authorized in writing by the county administrator or his/her designee.(2)Moving of equipment into or out of residential areas cannot occur outside of these time restrictions.(3)No filming activity which involves the use of explosives, pyrotechnics, fire or other special effects which involve flames or incendiary devices may be undertaken unless a permit has been obtained from the state fire marshal's office and approved in writing by the Horry County Fire Chief or his designee.(4)Use of public water by way of hydrant hookup shall require coordination with and specific approval by the Horry County Fire Chief or his designee.
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
Sec. 13-36(c) of the Horry County Code sets the noise and effects rules specific to a commercial film permit. , and moving equipment or vehicles into or out of a residential area is barred outside that same window unless the county administrator or a designee authorizes different hours in writing. Productions that want to use explosives, pyrotechnics, fire, or any special effect involving flame or an incendiary device cannot do so on the strength of the film permit alone: the production must first obtain a permit from the office of the State Fire Marshal and get written approval from the Horry County Fire Chief or the Chief's designee.
If a shoot needs a hydrant hookup for water, that use has to be coordinated with, and specifically approved by, the Fire Chief or designee, and the production pays for the water usage through the appropriate water authority. Under subsection (n), every other non-conflicting rule that governs special events generally, including the standard special-event permit provisions in Sections 13-31 through 13-35, still applies to a film shoot unless the county administrator waives it in advance. without written authorization, or that sets off pyrotechnics without the Fire Marshal and Fire Chief sign-offs, is operating outside its permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating outside the permitted filming hours, running equipment into a residential area outside those hours, or using explosives or pyrotechnics without the required Fire Marshal permit and Fire Chief approval is a misdemeanor under Sec. 13-36(m): a $500 fine per occurrence and up to 30 days in jail, with a separate citation possible for each day it continues. County police or the administrator's designee can shut the operation down immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a film crew work past 10 p.m. in Horry County?
Do pyrotechnics need a separate approval from the film permit?
What if a production needs to use a fire hydrant for a water scene?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
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