Bolthole Index

Horry County, South Carolina

Building permits, zoning and septic in North Myrtle Beach, SC

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina issues building permits through its city Building Division, and the city Zoning Division reviews building permit applications for zoning approval.12 North Myrtle Beach is in Horry County; inside city limits, septic approval for property without public or community sewer comes from SCDES under statewide rules.34 In the city's R-3 district, RVs are allowed only in RV parks or campgrounds.5

At a glance

Building permits
City Building Division issues building permits1
Zoning
City zoning review applies to building permit applications6
Septic
SCDES approval required where public or community sewer does not serve the property4
RV living
R-3: RVs only in RV parks or campgrounds5
Manufactured homes
R-3 individual lots: permanent foundation, underpinning and anchoring required7
Owner-builder
Conditional state licensing exemption for owner or family occupancy8
Private wells
Notice of Intent for state General Permit coverage before construction9

Who to call

Building permits

North Myrtle Beach Building Division

City building permits, plan review, construction inspections and flood-related building questions

(843) 280-5560

Online permits →

Zoning

North Myrtle Beach Zoning Division

City zoning approval, district questions and subdivision proposals

(843) 280-5560

Floodplain permits

North Myrtle Beach Planning Division — Floodplain Manager

Contact for parcel floodplain questions

(843) 280-5560

Septic permits

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)

State septic permitting; private-well permitting questions

(803) 898-3432

[email protected]

2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in North Myrtle Beach means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in North Myrtle Beach, SC?

North Myrtle Beach's Building Division issues building permits, reviews plans, enforces construction codes and inspects construction.1 Use the city's online building permit application and ask the Building Division which approvals and construction documents your proposed work needs; the city publishes the application but the specific document requirements remain unconfirmed.101

North Myrtle Beach publishes building permit fee information, but no fixed fee for a proposed home is established here.11 South Carolina leaves building permitting administration and fees to local jurisdictions.12 Ask the city for the applicable fee calculation before budgeting construction.1

Who handles North Myrtle Beach building permits and zoning?

North Myrtle Beach's Building Division and Zoning Division are within the city Planning & Development Department, and both list (843) 280-5560 as their phone number.12 The Building Division handles plan review and construction inspection; the Zoning Division reviews building permit applications, site-specific development plans and proposals to subdivide land.12

For land outside North Myrtle Beach city limits, use the Horry County guide for the county building permit requirements that apply to unincorporated land.13 City building and zoning review does not replace state septic approval: SCDES administers individual onsite wastewater permitting statewide.123

Does North Myrtle Beach have zoning, lot-size and height rules?

North Myrtle Beach has its own zoning ordinance, and the city publishes an interactive zoning map for identifying a parcel's district.614 Ask the Zoning Division to confirm the parcel's district and the lot-size and setback requirements for your proposed use before choosing a house plan.2

North Myrtle Beach's R-2 Medium Density Residential District limits residential uses to 35 feet in height; accessory and other permitted uses have different height limits.15 In the city's R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District, manufactured homes on individual lots must be residential, have their transport wheels and tongue removed, and be permanently founded, underpinned and anchored.7 Those district-specific provisions should guide questions about the actual parcel rather than assumptions about every city lot.157

How do septic permits and private wells work in North Myrtle Beach?

A North Myrtle Beach home or manufactured home on property not served by public or community sewer needs SCDES approval and a permit to install a septic system first.4 South Carolina does not issue onsite wastewater permits where public sewer is accessible, so verify sewer accessibility before paying for septic design.16 SCDES evaluates the site before issuing a septic construction permit, and the installer must request a final inspection before covering the system.17

In North Myrtle Beach special flood hazard areas, onsite waste systems must be located and built to avoid impairment or contamination during flooding.18 A private residential well requires a Notice of Intent for state General Permit coverage before construction; that permit does not override another applicable local prohibition.9

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in North Myrtle Beach?

North Myrtle Beach's R-3 district allows recreational vehicles only in RV parks or campgrounds, with each RV site at least 2,400 square feet.5 The R-3 rule does not establish permission to live in an RV on an ordinary private lot while building a house.5 Ask the city Zoning Division about the proposed parcel and temporary occupancy before buying an RV for that purpose.2

We could not confirm North Myrtle Beach's tiny-home occupancy rules, accessory dwelling permissions or minimum dwelling floor area; ask the Zoning Division about the exact building and use you propose.2 North Myrtle Beach also prohibits camping in city-owned parks, subject to enumerated exceptions including camping permitted by the Parks and Recreation Department.19

Building a home in North Myrtle Beach: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the parcel's North Myrtle Beach zoning district on the city map, then ask the Zoning Division about the proposed use and site plan.142
  2. Verify sewer accessibility; if sewer does not serve the property, obtain SCDES septic site approval and the installation permit.164
  3. Ask the city's Floodplain Manager about the parcel, and account for flood-safe onsite wastewater design where special flood hazard rules apply.2018
  4. Submit the city building permit application and arrange the Building Division's required plan review and construction inspections.101

South Carolina's owner-builder licensing exemption requires qualifying owner or family occupancy, personal supervision, a signed building permit application and a recorded public notice; applicable building codes and zoning still apply.8

Watch-outs

  • North Myrtle Beach's R-3 RV provision is district-specific; ask city zoning staff about any proposed RV use outside that district.52
  • South Carolina's 2024 mandatory code editions have a local implementation date of January 1, 2027; ask North Myrtle Beach's Building Division which edition will govern your application.211
  • We could not confirm North Myrtle Beach's general certificate-of-occupancy requirements or driveway-access requirements; ask the Building Division before planning occupancy or access construction.1

Sources

  1. North Myrtle Beach Building Division (ps.nmb.us)
  2. North Myrtle Beach Zoning Division (ps.nmb.us)
  3. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 23-21. - R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 23 - Zoning | Code of Ordinances | North Myrtle Beach, SC (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 23-21. - R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  8. South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 59 — Residential Home Builders (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Private Drinking Water Wells (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Planning & Development | North Myrtle Beach, SC (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  11. Planning & Development | North Myrtle Beach, SC (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Codes Council Frequently Asked Questions (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. How to know if you need a building Permit (2026 county census)
  14. Planning & Development | North Myrtle Beach, SC (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sec. 23-19. - R-2 Medium Density Residential District (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  16. Professional Soil Classifiers - Sewer Accessibility Verification (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Septic Tanks - Frequently Asked Questions (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Sec. 6-23. - Provisions for flood hazard reduction (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  19. Sec. 16-16. - Urban camping and improper use of public places (North Myrtle Beach), quoted and re-checked
  20. North Myrtle Beach Planning Division — Floodplain Manager (ps.nmb.us)
  21. 2024 Building Code Modification Index (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • Chapter 23 is the city's zoning ordinance.
    “The Zoning Division is responsible for enforcing the Zoning Ordinance via review and approval of all building permit applications, site-specific development plan review, review of business license applications, and reviews of proposals to subdivide land.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • The city Planning & Development page links both Chapter 23 and the City's Interactive Zoning Map.
    “Chapter 23: Zoning Ordinance City's Interactive Zoning Map”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping in city-owned parks inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • The cited section has enumerated exceptions, including camping permitted by the city's parks and recreation department.
    “It shall be unlawful to camp or to store personal property in any park, as defined above, owned by the city.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site waste disposal systems in special flood hazard areas inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • System location and construction must avoid impairment or contamination during flooding.
    “On-site waste disposal systems shall be located and constructed to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Proposals to subdivide land inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • Planning Division staff support the Planning Commission for subdivision review.
    “The Zoning Division is responsible for enforcing the Zoning Ordinance via review and approval of all building permit applications, site-specific development plan review, review of business license applications, and reviews of proposals to subdivide land.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City building permits inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • The city page links to Building Permit Fees; fee amounts were not extracted from the opened page.
    “Online Permit Application City Ordinance: Adopted Codes Building Permit Fees ICC Building Valuation Data”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    City building permit applications inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • The city publishes an online permit application; specific application requirements were not extracted from the opened page.
    “Online Permit Application City Ordinance: Adopted Codes Building Permit Fees ICC Building Valuation Data”

Rules another office applies inside North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential uses in the R-2 Medium Density Residential District inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • Accessory uses and other permitted uses have different maximum heights.

    maximum height: <= 35 feet (residential uses)

    “Maximum height: Thirty-five (35) feet for residential uses, fifteen (15) feet for accessory uses, and forty-five (45) feet for all other permitted uses.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy in the R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • Recreational vehicles are allowed only in recreational-vehicle parks or campgrounds.
    • Each RV site must be at least 2,400 square feet.

    minimum RV site size: >= 2400 square feet

    “Recreational vehicles are allowed only in recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds. Each site shall have minimum size of two thousand four hundred (2,400) square feet.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Mobile/manufactured homes on individual lots in the R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.

    • Use must be residential.
    • Only one mobile/manufactured home may occupy a lot.
    • Transport wheels and tongue must be removed.
    • The home must be permanently founded, underpinned, and anchored.
    “Mobile/manufactured homes on individual lots, provided: 1. Such uses shall be used only for residential purposes; and 2. No more than one (1) mobile/manufactured home shall occupy a lot; and 3. The wheels and tongue for transporting such uses shall be removed; and 4. Such uses shall be placed on a permanent brick, permanent block or other concrete reinforced foundations, and shall be underpinned with brick, concrete block, or continuous aluminum or fiberglass skirting extending to the ground around the perimeter of the dwelling and shall be anchored.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask North Myrtle Beach or Horry County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside North Myrtle Beach city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that North Myrtle Beach publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Horry County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Horry County: county rules, score and offices