Horry County does not require a permit to prune most private trees, but it is unlawful to injure a Specimen Live Oak (24-inch DBH or larger). During development, preserved trees must be protected inside their dripline root-protection zone under the zoning ordinance.
For routine yard trees, Horry County has no county-wide trimming permit; a homeowner may prune a private tree. The limit is the Live Oak Standards in the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix B, Article V, Section 505): it is unlawful to injure, participate in, authorize, or cause the removal of any Specimen Live Oak with a DBH of twenty-four (24) inches or greater, so severe cutting that injures such a tree is regulated. Section 505(D) Tree Protection requires that preserved trees be protected from damage during development; the Root Protection Zone is the total area beneath the tree canopy, or dripline, and protective devices must surround the dripline and be kept free of construction materials, vehicles or debris. Overhanging branches from a
Injuring or removing a protected Specimen Live Oak without authorization can trigger the county's mitigation requirements (replacement trees or a fee in lieu). Damaging a preserved tree's root-protection zone during a permitted development can bring zoning enforcement and replanting.
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Horry County, SC
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Horry County, SC
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Horry County, SC
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Horry County, SC
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Horry County, SC
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Horry County, SC
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See how Horry County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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