Government Resources You Need

Short-Term Rentals

This is a high-level reference only. Always verify the property's municipality, zoning district, HOA/deed restrictions, business-license requirements, and applicable state/local accommodation taxes before advising that a property may legally operate as a short-term rental.

City of Myrtle Beach 

• Planning & Zoning Department STR definition 
• STR Zone Map 
• COMB Zoning Map  
• A business license is required. 
• Zoning Code
• STR Conversion Overlay Zone

City of North Myrtle Beach 

• STR Overview
• Quick Reference Guide
• A business license is required.
• STR Rules for Visitors
• There is currently no special zoning or permit process required beyond standard licensing.

City of Conway

• Business License & Fee Requirements
• Citizen Problem Reporter
• Unified Development Ordinance
  • Commercial Short-Term Rental (CSTR) A conditional use whereby a structure is converted and/or created into a fully functioning, private accommodations use, which may include cooking, living, sanitary and sleeping facility within one dwelling unit, to be rented to one (1) family for a period of not more than ninety (90) consecutive days. Hotels, motels, Inns, bed and breakfast establishments, and other land uses explicitly defined and regulated in the UDO separately from Commercial Short-Term Rentals (CSTR’s) are not considered Commercial Short-Term Rentals. [ZA2021-06-21(B)] 
• Zoning Map

City of Georgetown

• STR Basics
• Unified Development Ordinance (Page 78)
• STR Application
• Business License Application
• Zoning Map
• A Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit will not be issued or renewed until a City of Georgetown Business License has been obtained for both the property owner and rental agent, if applicable. 
• Note: Georgetown has a cap of 250 STR units.
• City of Georgetown Planning Department (843.545.4010)

Town of Surfside Beach

• Zoning Map
• A business license is required.

• Sec. 17-396.10. - Transient rental and long term rental. Transient rentals, also known as a short term rentals are permitted in the R3 and C3 zoning districts and are defined as a dwelling or other accommodation used as a dwelling or other place of human habitation with sleeping accommodations which is rented, lease, or subleased for periods less than a calendar month or thirty (30) days. Long term rentals are permitted in all zoning districts allowing residential uses. Long term rentals defined as three hundred sixty five days (365) or longer. (Ord. No. 20-0913, 2-23-21)

Sign Ordinances

Tree/Landscape Preservation

Did you know that new Bradford Pear trees are banned by the State of South Carolina? Each year, Clemson University and the SC Forestry Commission conduct a "Bradford Pear Bounty" where homeowners can remove existing Bradford pears and replace them with free native trees. 

Horry County

• The Landscape, Buffer, and Tree Preservation Ordinance passed on 6/16/26 is not yet available in the online code of ordinances database, but you can review the text here.

Georgetown County

• There is a difference between the rural-area tree overlay regulations and the urban-area tree overlay regulations. 
• The regulations in both County overlays are divided into three classifications: occupied single-family residential requirements, unoccupied single-family residential requirements, and non-single-family requirements.
• The tree ordinance was updated in 2024 to include, "All occupied single-family parcels as defined in Article III of this ordinance are exempt from both tree protection  and tree replacement provisions found in this Article."
• Article 13: Tree Regulations
• Appendix A: Tree Illustrations
• Article 12: Buffer Requirements

City of Myrtle Beach

•  The City of Myrtle Beach is in the process of doing a complete rewrite of its zoning code for the first time in 40 years. This process is expected to be completed in late 2026 or early 2027. 
• Current Landscaping & Tree Protection regulations
• Tree Protection Ordinance Affidavit

City of Conway

•  You can view the Landscaping, Buffering, and Tree Preservation Standards here.
• Tree FAQ's
• Tree Permit Request for Removal or Pruning

City of North Myrtle Beach

• Tree Preservation Regulations
• Landscaping Requirements

Town of Surfside Beach

• Landscaping and Tree Protection ordinance
• The Town of Surfside Beach is updating its tree ordinance. It passed the first of two required readings on August 11, 2026.

City of Georgetown

• Tree Trimming or Removal Permit information
• The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is currently being updated by the City of Georgetown.
  • Tree Protection Regulations

Town of Pawleys Island

• Tree and Landscaping ordinance

City of Loris

• The City of Loris has not uploaded a current copy of its Unified Zoning & Land Development Ordinance since 2018. 
• If you have any questions, please contact City Hall at (843)756-4004.

Town of Aynor

• Landscaping ordinance
  • The Landscaping Selection Guide can be found in Appendix A on page 77.

Town of Andrews

• The Andrews Town Code reads that "Chapter 152 of the 1981 Andrews Code of Ordinances provided for Planning and Zoning. Since that time, however, the state has made obsolete all such ordinances and now requires all municipalities to adopt new ordinances to comply with standard regulations applicable to all municipalities. Georgetown/Williamsburg counties now provide such provisions."

Wetlands

Accessory Dwelling Units

Impact Fees

Flood Zones/Floodplain Management

Horry County

• Flood Damage Prevention and Control Ordinance 
• Flood Zone Recommended Mitigation Strategies
• Flood Map
• Map Your Move tool
• Flood Preparedness Information

Georgetown County

• Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
  
• Flood Protection Information
• Flood Information Map tool

City of Conway

• Floodplain Information
• Flood Map
• Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
• Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction Ordinance

City of Myrtle Beach

• Floodplain Management Regulations Ordinance
• Brochure on Regulatory Floodplains and Flood Protections
• Flood Protection Information
• Flood map

City of Georgetown

• Flood map
• Flood Damage Prevention & Control Ordinance
• Hurricane Surge Map

Town of Pawleys Island

• Flood Hazard Reduction Ordinance
• Floodplain Management Information