Bolthole Index

Horry County, South Carolina

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Town of Surfside Beach, SC

The Town of Surfside Beach, South Carolina requires approval and payment for covered building-permit projects before work begins.1 Surfside Beach administers its own zoning, while septic systems fall under the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES).23 Living or sleeping in an RV or other nonpermanent structure inside town limits is prohibited.4

At a glance

Building permits
Town approval and fees required before covered work begins1
Zoning
Town zoning applies inside Surfside Beach2
Septic permits
SCDES approval required for a home without public or community sewer35
RV living
Living, sleeping and housekeeping in RVs prohibited4
Tiny homes
Nonpermanent structures cannot be dwellings; permanent-home classification needs town review6
Owner-builder
Conditional state exemption for owner or family occupancy; building and zoning rules still apply7
Accessory dwelling
R-3 single-family home with accessory dwelling: minimum lot 6,000 square feet8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning Department

Town building approval, zoning and construction-code questions

843-913-6341

[email protected]

Floodplain permits

Town of Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning Department — Floodplain Management

Town flood-map determinations, elevation certificates and floodplain construction requirements

843-913-6341

Septic permits

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)

State septic-system permitting for property inside Surfside Beach

(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 Town of Surfside Beach means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in the Town of Surfside Beach, SC?

Surfside Beach requires completed building-permit applications to be submitted and approved, with fees paid, before work begins on projects requiring a town permit.1 Some Surfside Beach projects require plan review, and the town requires the permit to be posted where it is visible from the street.9 Contractors and subcontractors must be listed for town building-permit projects.9

Surfside Beach has adopted national construction codes by reference, with town ordinances prevailing where inconsistent with the adopted codes.10 Ask the town department which application and plans your proposed work needs before scheduling construction.11

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Town of Surfside Beach?

Use the Town of Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning Department for building approval and zoning questions inside town limits; the department enforces town ordinances and standard codes.11 The department’s phone is 843-913-6341.11 For a parcel outside town limits, use the Horry County guide for the county’s building-permit answer for unincorporated land.12

Septic authority does not move to the town building counter: SCDES administers onsite wastewater systems serving Surfside Beach property.3 Town flood information does belong with Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning, which provides flood maps, elevation certificates and flood studies.13

Does the Town of Surfside Beach have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Surfside Beach administers its own zoning regulations, so the zoning district matters when choosing a lot and designing a home.2 In the R-2 medium density residential district, the minimum lot size is 6,000 square feet.14 In R-1 and R-2, the listed yard setbacks are 25 feet in front, 20 feet at the rear and 10 feet at the side.1516

In R-3, the front setback is 20 feet and the rear setback is 15 feet; detached single-family buildings up to 55 feet high have a 5-foot side setback, while other buildings have a 10-foot side setback.17 That side-yard provision does not establish a general maximum building height.17 R-3 allows a single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit on a lot of at least 6,000 square feet, subject to other zoning, building and floodplain requirements.8

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Surfside Beach?

A new home in Surfside Beach on property without public or community sewer needs SCDES approval and a permit to install a septic system first.5 The state’s septic construction permits are valid for 5 years; renewal or approved changes require a new application and fee.5

SCDES must evaluate the site for a new home using septic, and the installer must contact SCDES for final inspection before covering the system.18 South Carolina does not generally require regular inspections of existing systems, but towns may add local inspection requirements.18 We could not confirm Surfside Beach’s additional local inspection requirements; ask the town department and SCDES before relying on an existing system.1119

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Surfside Beach?

Surfside Beach prohibits using recreational vehicles or any nonpermanent structure for living, sleeping or housekeeping within town limits.4 That prohibition also limits a tiny home that is a vehicle or nonpermanent structure; the rule does not settle whether a particular permanent tiny house qualifies as a permitted dwelling.6 Ask Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning to review the proposed permanent dwelling’s classification before buying it.11

Surfside Beach prohibits placement of mobile homes, while manufactured homes are addressed in the manufactured home park district and require a zoning permit before placement.20 Flood-hazard restrictions can independently limit or prohibit manufactured homes, so a zoning permit alone does not resolve suitability.20

What are the steps to build a home in the Town of Surfside Beach?

  1. Ask Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district and proposed dwelling use; town zoning applies inside town limits.211
  2. Request flood maps and elevation-certificate information from the town department before finalizing the design.13
  3. For a site without public or community sewer, obtain SCDES approval and the septic installation permit first.5
  4. Submit the complete town application and required plans, list contractors and subcontractors, obtain approval and pay fees before beginning covered work.9
  5. Post the building permit visibly from the street.9

South Carolina’s owner-builder exemption is conditional on owner or family occupancy, personal supervision and compliance with building and zoning rules; it does not excuse town building approval.7

What should you check before buying in the Town of Surfside Beach?

Ask Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning for the parcel’s flood information, elevation certificates and applicable floodplain construction requirements before committing to a design.13 Surfside Beach subdivision plats also have filing and review fees under the town’s subdivision provisions.21

We could not confirm a general Surfside Beach minimum dwelling floor area, residential height limit or lot-coverage limit; ask the town department for the standards applying to the parcel’s district.11 We also could not confirm when public water or sewer connection is compulsory, or a town-specific driveway-access requirement; raise those questions with the same department before buying.11 For a proposed private well or off-grid sanitation system, ask SCDES about the site and system, and ask the town about local approval.1911

Watch-outs

  • An RV cannot serve as temporary sleeping accommodation on Surfside Beach property under the town’s prohibition on living, sleeping and housekeeping in nonpermanent structures.4
  • R-3 accessory-dwelling lot rules are district-specific; they are not a townwide permission for an accessory dwelling.8
  • Selling or renting an owner-built residence within 2 years after completion creates a statutory presumption against the owner-builder exemption unless otherwise approved by the commission.7

Sources

  1. Town building and zoning ordinance (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  2. Ordinances (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic Tanks (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sec. 17-427. Noncommercial vehicles, trailers and boats (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  5. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 17-427. Noncommercial vehicles, trailers and boats (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  7. South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 59 — Residential Home Builders (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 17-328. Minimum lot size (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town building and zoning ordinance (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  10. Ordinance No. 22-0951 (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning Department (surfsidebeach.org)
  12. How to know if you need a building Permit (2026 county census)
  13. Town of Surfside Beach Planning, Building & Zoning Department — Floodplain Management (surfsidebeach.org)
  14. Sec. 17-318. Minimum lot size (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sec. 17-310. Yard setbacks (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  16. Sec. 17-320. Yard setbacks (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  17. Sec. 17-330. Yard setbacks (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic Tanks - Frequently Asked Questions (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) (des.sc.gov)
  20. Sec. 17-391. Manufactured home siting requirements (Town of Surfside Beach), quoted and re-checked
  21. Subdivision filing and review fees (Town of Surfside Beach), 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 Town of Surfside Beach

Town of Surfside Beach’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Projects inside Surfside Beach town for which a town permit is required.

    • Applications must be submitted, approved, and fees paid before work begins.
    • Some projects require plan review.
    “Permit applications must be obtained, completely filled out, submitted, approved and fees paid before any work may begin on any project.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Surfside Beach town.

    • The ordinance adopts the listed codes by reference.
    • Town ordinances prevail if inconsistent with adopted codes.
    • The ordinance states it takes effect immediately upon approval at second reading.
    “Town of Surfside Beach hereby adopts the latest editions of the following national codes”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Surfside Beach town; the town administers Chapter 17 zoning regulations.

    • The Town Code page identifies the official municipal code and links the zoning code.
    “The official Town Code of Ordinances is maintained in the Town Clerk's Office. [...] You may find and search Surfside Beach's ordinances by clicking here”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family and other lots in the R-2 medium density residential district.

    • The cited section states a district-wide minimum lot size.

    minimum lot size: >= 6000 square feet (R-2 district)

    “The minimum size of lots in the R-2 minimum density residential district is six thousand (6,000) square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings in the R-3 high density residential and accommodations district.

    • Detached single-family buildings up to 55 feet high have a 5-foot side setback; all others have a 10-foot side setback.

    front setback: >= 20 feet (R-3 district) · rear setback: >= 15 feet (R-3 district) · side setback: >= 5 feet (Detached single-family buildings up to 55 feet high) · side setback: >= 10 feet (All other buildings)

    “Five (5) feet for detached, single-family buildings up to fifty-five (55) feet high, ten (10) feet for all others.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Buildings in the R-1 low density residential district.
      “Front yard setback: Twenty-five (25) feet. (2) Rear yard setback: Twenty (20) feet. (3) Side yard setback: Ten (10) feet.”
    • Specified — Buildings in the R-2 medium density residential district.
      “Front yard setback: Twenty-five (25) feet. (2) Rear yard setback: Twenty (20) feet. (3) Side yard setback: Ten (10) feet.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Living, sleeping, or housekeeping in recreational vehicles and other nonpermanent structures within Surfside Beach town limits.

    • The prohibition is townwide; separate restrictions apply to public parking and coastal high-hazard areas.
    “recreational vehicles, or any type of nonpermanent structure of any kind shall not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny homes that are nonpermanent structures or vehicles inside Surfside Beach town.

    • Nonpermanent structures may not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping.
    • A tiny home that qualifies as a permitted permanent dwelling may be subject to separate zoning and building-code requirements; the cited provision does not resolve that classification.
    “any type of nonpermanent structure of any kind shall not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes inside Surfside Beach town.

    • Mobile homes are prohibited townwide.
    • Manufactured homes are addressed in the manufactured home park district and require a zoning permit before placement.
    • Flood-hazard restrictions may independently prohibit or limit manufactured homes.
    “The placement of a mobile home, as defined by this chapter, is prohibited within the town limits of Surfside Beach; [...] Manufactured homes shall require a zoning permit prior to placement.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    A single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit in the R-3 high density residential and accommodations district.

    • The R-3 minimum lot size for a single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit is 6,000 square feet.
    • Other zoning, building, floodplain, and permitting rules still apply.

    minimum lot size: >= 6000 square feet (R-3 district; single-family dwelling with accessory dwelling unit)

    “a single-family dwelling unit with an accessory dwelling unit is six thousand (6,000) square feet.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats inside Surfside Beach town.

    • Filing and review fees are established by Chapter 15.
    • The fee schedule distinguishes major/minor and preliminary/final zoning/public-works reviews.
    “Fees for the filing and review of subdivision plats are established by chapter 15 of this Code”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Town building-permit projects inside Surfside Beach town.

    • Applications must be complete, submitted, approved, and paid before work begins.
    • Some projects require plan review.
    • Permits must be posted visibly from the street.
    • Contractors and subcontractors must be listed.
    “Some projects will require plan reviews.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Surfside Beach

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

  • Who permits septicState

    Onsite wastewater systems serving property inside Surfside Beach town, under South Carolina's SCDES program.

    • SCDES identifies Regulation 61-56 as governing onsite wastewater systems.
    “Regulation 61-56: Onsite Wastewater Systems”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Surfside Beach town.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Surfside Beach town.
  • Building height — Building height inside Surfside Beach town.
  • Septic inspection — Septic-system inspection requirements inside Surfside Beach town.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Surfside Beach town.
4 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

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 Town of Surfside 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