Horry County, SC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- Horry County Code § 10-15
- Appliance screening
- Remove/screen within 7 days
- Enforcer
- Dept. of Environmental Services
- First-offense fine
- $200-$500, up to 30 days
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Horry County
Summary
In unincorporated Horry County, owners and occupants may not let garbage, debris, or rubbish pile up in a way that creates a health hazard, unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, odors, or rodent harborage. Exposed household appliances must be removed or screened within seven days.
No owner, occupant, tenant or lessee of an public or private premises shall permit the accumulation upon their premises of any garbage, debris or rubbish creating a health hazard ... in such a manner as to create unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, offensive or obnoxious odors, insect-breeding places, harboring places for rodents or to be a nuisance to the public.
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. 10-15(a) bars any owner, occupant, tenant, or lessee from permitting accumulation of garbage, debris, litter, or rubbish that becomes a nuisance. Sec. 10-31 separately prohibits leaving household appliances visible from a public road or adjoining property for more than seven days unless screened per the fencing standards of Secs. 10-28 and 10-35. The Horry County Department of Environmental Services enforces these provisions county-wide in unincorporated areas; municipalities such as Myrtle Beach and Conway maintain their own blight codes. Myrtle Beach Code Sec. 10-31 formally defines 'blight' as physical deterioration of property reducing its value and that of nearby property.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor under Sec. 10-42: first offense $200-$500 and up to 30 days jail (or 40 hours community service); second offense $500+ and 15-30 days plus 100 hours community service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave a broken refrigerator in my yard?
Who enforces blight complaints in unincorporated areas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina property maintenance overview
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