Horry County, SC Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- How to reserve
- Apply through county recreation and parks department
- Section
- Horry County Code § 14-15.4(b)
- Fee
- Reasonable fee set by the department, not fixed in code
- Related rule
- Organized activities need approval, § 14-15.5(a)(9)
- Applies to
- All county parks incl. Socastee, Carolina Forest, Little River
- Penalty for skipping it
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail (§1-8)
Summary
Horry County lets groups reserve or lease its parks, recreational facilities and equipment like inflatables for a fee under Code § 14-15.4(b). The recreation and parks department sets the application forms, conditions and restrictions, so any organized event needs its sign-off first.
(b)Rentals, reservations, and leases. The department may lease or allow the reservation of the use of the parks and recreational facilities, or a portion thereof, as well as the use of equipment like inflatables, to individuals and organizations or groups for the payment of a reasonable fee. The department shall develop forms and procedures and reasonable conditions and restrictions for the public's application of the same.
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
4(b) puts the county's parks and recreational facilities up for reservation rather than leaving them first-come, first-served for organized gatherings: "The department may lease or allow the reservation of the use of the parks and recreational facilities, or a portion thereof, as well as the use of equipment like inflatables, to individuals and organizations or groups for the payment of a reasonable fee. " The code leaves the actual application, fee schedule and conditions to the department of recreation and parks rather than fixing a dollar figure in the ordinance itself, so the rate and paperwork depend on the facility and event size.
4(c), which lets the department designate specific areas suitable or unsuitable for certain uses. Both provisions were adopted together in the current parks code, Ord. No. 104-2025, § 4, effective February 17, 2026, and apply at every facility the county runs, including those serving the unincorporated growth areas of Socastee, Carolina Forest, Garden City and Little River. A group that uses a park for an organized event without going through the reservation or approval process is treated the same as any other park code-of-conduct violation, subject to the Code's general penalty, § 1-8.
Violations & Fines
Using a county park facility for an organized event or reserved-use activity without a lease, reservation or department approval is enforced under the Code's general penalty, § 1-8: a fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with public service allowed in lieu of a fine. The department can also decline further reservations to a group that skips the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a Horry County park pavilion or field for an event?
Do I need a permit just to play a pickup football game at a county park?
What does it cost to reserve a Horry County park facility?
What happens if my group holds an event at a county park without reserving it?
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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