Horry County, SC Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Any filming unless crew is 15 or fewer
- Filming hours
- 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in residential areas
- Application lead time
- At least 45 days before filming
- Insurance
- $1,000,000 liability, county as additional insured
- Overlap rule
- Special-event provisions §§13-31-13-35 apply, §13-36(n)
- Penalty
- $500 fine and/or 30 days jail per occurrence
Summary
Commercial filming in unincorporated Horry County needs the same special-event permit used for concerts and festivals, unless the crew totals fifteen people or fewer, it's news coverage, a school project, or the production already qualifies for South Carolina Film Commission incentives. Non-conflicting special-event provisions on fees, appeals, and noise apply to film shoots too.
A special event permit is required for any film, video or still photography activity whether on public or private property, to be conducted within the county, with the exception that news coverage, students engaged in school projects, and production companies with a cast and crew totaling fifteen (15) persons or less do not require such a permit. ... All other non-conflicting provisions contained in sections 13-31 through 13-35 of the Horry County Code of Ordinances apply herewith to motion picture and film production unless otherwise waived in advance by the Horry County Administer or his/her 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
Section 13-36(a)(1) requires a special event permit for any film, video, or still photography activity on public or private property in the county, exempting news coverage, student school projects, and production companies with a cast and crew of fifteen persons or fewer. Productions already found eligible for South Carolina Film Commission incentives are also exempt from the permit, on proof of that eligibility. Applications are due at least 45 days before filming, with no permit fee, though metered parking, county facility use, or required county staff carry their own charges.
unless the county administrator authorizes otherwise in writing, and a permit holder must carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the county as an additional insured. Subsection (n) folds the rest of the special-event framework in: all other non-conflicting provisions contained in sections 13-31 through 13-35 apply to motion picture and film production, meaning the noise standards, special-event fee structure, and appeal rights built for concerts and festivals govern filming too unless the county administrator waives them in advance.
Violations & Fines
A violation of section 13-36 is a misdemeanor under subsection (m)(3): a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or thirty (30) days in jail per occurrence, with multiple citations allowed per day for an ongoing violation. The county administrator or police may also shut down the production and revoke the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small independent film shoot need a permit?
Do the same rules for concerts apply to a film shoot?
What happens if a shoot runs past 10 p.m. in a neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina special events & permits overview
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