Horry County, SC Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected corridor buffer
- 1,000 feet from 4 named parkways
- Interchange buffer
- 500 feet from ramp pavement widening
- Sensitive-use buffer
- 300 feet from church, school, park
- Max size
- 400 square feet of sign face
- Max height
- 50 feet
- Allowed districts
- 11 specific zoning districts only
Summary
Horry County bars off-premise signs and billboards within 1,000 feet of the centerlines of Carolina Bays Parkway, Veterans Highway/Grissom Parkway, Robert Edge Parkway and International Drive under Zoning Ordinance § 609.B.3, tightening to a 500-foot buffer near interchange ramp widening.
3.No portion of any off-premise sign shall be located within one thousand (1,000) feet from the centerlines of the Carolina Bays Parkway, Veterans Hwy 22 Grissom Parkway, Robert Edge Parkway, or International Drive. No portion of any off-premise sign shall be located within five hundred (500) feet from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to Carolina Bays Parkway or Veteran Hwy 22.
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
A. 3 draws a hard exclusion zone around four of the county's busiest tourist corridors: no off-premise sign may sit within 1,000 feet of the centerline of Carolina Bays Parkway (SC 31), Veterans Highway (SC 22)/Grissom Parkway, Robert Edge Parkway, or International Drive. Near the interchanges where Carolina Bays Parkway and Veterans Highway widen for exit and entrance ramps, the buffer tightens further, barring any off-premise sign within 500 feet of where that pavement widening begins or ends. The same section keeps off-premise signs at least 300 feet from a church, cemetery, school or public park, at least 100 feet from a signalized intersection measured from the nearest signal head, and 600 feet from an elevated bridge abutment.
Off-premise signs sited under these rules are capped at 400 square feet of face area and 50 feet in height, with a 10-foot setback from all property lines.
Violations & Fines
Placing an off-premise sign inside these corridor buffers, or in a zoning district that doesn't permit off-premise signs at all, violates § 609 and is punishable under § 114 as a misdemeanor, with fines up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail for each day the illegal sign remains standing. Horry County can also remove any sign placed unlawfully in a street or highway right-of-way without notice to the owner under § 611.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard go up next to Carolina Bays Parkway in Horry County?
Where are off-premise signs allowed in Horry County?
How big can an off-premise sign be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.