Horry County, SC zoning, setbacks & lot buildability

County seat: Conway

Horry County covers the Myrtle Beach market, where flat coastal land, wetlands, and stormwater rules define buildability.

Common Horry County residential zoning districts

District	Typical name	Typical minimum lot size
SF10	Single Family Residential	~10,000 sq ft
SF20	Single Family Residential	~20,000 sq ft
SF40	Single Family Residential	~40,000 sq ft
FA	Forest Agriculture	~1+ acre

Typical setbacks: 25 ft front, 10 ft side, 20–25 ft rear. LotAnalyst subtracts the applicable setback envelope from the parcel geometry to show the actual buildable footprint rather than the raw lot size.

Water, sewer & septic

Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority covers much of the county; inland tracts use septic permitted by SC DHEC.

Topography & slope

Very flat coastal plain, typically under 2% grade.

Flood & drainage

Extensive FEMA AE and coastal zones plus post-2016/2018 hurricane flood history; the county enforces its own stormwater and fill standards.

What kills Horry County deals

Wetlands delineation frequently removes most of the usable area on inland tracts.
Elevation and fill requirements can add tens of thousands to a slab-on-grade build.
Septic approval on wet soils is a common denial reason.

Statewide South Carolina rules that also apply

SC DHEC permits septic systems and regulates coastal critical areas.
Coastal counties enforce local freeboard and fill requirements above FEMA minimums.
Wetlands delineation is a routine prerequisite on inland coastal-plain tracts.
Stormwater detention requirements can consume a significant share of small tracts.

See the full South Carolina land feasibility guide

See what a finished report looks like

Every Horry County analysis returns the same structure: zoning and minimum-lot-size check, setback envelope, USGS 3DEP slope profile, septic/sewer feasibility, flood and buffer flags, and acquisition underwriting. Here is a full worked example.

View the sample report See pricing

Figures on this page are typical ranges compiled from published ordinances and public data for orientation only. Districts, overlays, and setbacks change — always verify the governing zoning district, minimum lot size, buffers, and septic requirements with the county planning office and health department before you buy or build. Read the full disclaimer.