Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Building Permit Guide

The City of Myrtle Beach Construction Services Department, in the City Services Building at 921 Oak Street, issues building and trade permits, reviews plans and inspects construction inside city limits. Trade permits are emailed to the permit technicians, and new homes in the regulatory floodplain must sit at least three feet above the base flood elevation.

What requires a permit in Myrtle Beach?

Construction Services handles building permits, plan review, construction inspections and electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical trade permits. The City’s Documents Center keeps separate procedures for each kind of job:

Who issues permits in Myrtle Beach?

Construction Services issues building and trade permits, reviews plans, inspects construction and enforces the property maintenance code; Chris Thompson is its Director. It works with the Planning & Zoning Department (Director Kenneth May, 843-918-1050), which enforces the zoning rules. Unincorporated land outside the city is permitted by Horry County.

Myrtle Beach permit types and filing path

For commercial alterations, new homes and residential exterior alterations, the City directs applicants to the procedures and forms in the “Permits” folder of its Documents Center. The folder holds:

• The Building Permit Application
• The Residential Permit Procedures & Forms Packet and the Commercial & Multi-Family Permit Procedures Packet
• Authorization forms for a contractor acting for an owner, an owner authorizing a contractor, and an owner authorizing a design professional
• The Homeowner Disclosure Statement, for owners doing their own work
• The Construction Services Business Affidavit
• Procedures for demolition, moving and lighting permits, and the fence permit application
• A Pre-Construction Meeting Packet

Electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits, and applications for the City’s master trade cards, are emailed to the permit technicians or faxed. Commercial plan sets are usually too big for City email, so send a cloud or Dropbox link to the plan reviewer instead.

Permit costs and fees in Myrtle Beach

Permit fees are set in the City’s FY26 Permit Fee Schedule, posted in the Documents Center alongside the permit forms; the Construction Services expeditors can price a specific job.

Flood and coastal rules in Myrtle Beach

Every property in the city is in or near a FEMA-mapped flood hazard area, and the City’s floodplain rules sit in Article 11 of its zoning regulations.

• Elevation: new homes in the regulatory floodplain must be built at least three feet above the base flood elevation. Outside the special flood hazard areas, new buildings need a finished floor at least 18 inches above the highest crown of any abutting street or 24 inches above the lot’s average grade, and the lowest floor and all mechanical and electrical equipment must meet that height.
• Grading: stormwater must not pond under the building or within three feet of it or its equipment.
• Elevation certificates: all development in the regulatory floodplain needs one before, during and after construction.
• Damage and improvements: a building damaged to 50 percent or more of its value must be removed or brought fully into compliance, and older floodplain buildings may be improved by less than 50 percent of their value.
• Oceanfront: the Coastal Protection Zone in Article 18 adds rules for property seaward of the projected 50-year erosion control line.

Certified floodplain managers in Construction Services can go through lot-by-lot flood maps and required elevations with you at 921 Oak Street. Short-term rentals (under 90 days) are allowed only in the zones the City maps for them, which exclude most residential neighborhoods.

How to apply in Myrtle Beach

Inspections and closeout in Myrtle Beach

Construction Services inspects every permitted project. Call 843-918-1111 to schedule: by 4:00 p.m. the day before for a morning inspection, or by 9:00 a.m. on the day itself for an afternoon inspection. In the floodplain, the final elevation certificate is part of closing out the job.

South Carolina building code

Every South Carolina county and municipality enforces the 2021 South Carolina Building Codes, in force since 1 January 2023; the 2024 editions take effect statewide on 1 January 2027, and the energy code stays the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. South Carolina building codes

Official Myrtle Beach permitting resources

• City of Myrtle Beach Construction Services
• Applications, Documents & Forms (permit packets and fee schedule)
• Myrtle Beach Planning & Zoning
• Myrtle Beach flood protection and floodplain permits
• South Carolina Building Codes Council — code adoption

Myrtle Beach permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Myrtle Beach?

The City’s Construction Services Department, for property inside city limits. Horry County permits the unincorporated area.

How do I schedule an inspection in Myrtle Beach?

Call 843-918-1111 by 4:00 p.m. the day before for a morning inspection, or by 9:00 a.m. the same day for an afternoon one.

Where do I send trade permit applications?

Email electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits to permittech@cityofmyrtlebeach.com, or fax them to 843-918-1158.

How high must a new house be built in the floodplain?

At least three feet above the base flood elevation, with an elevation certificate before, during and after construction.

Do I need a permit to repair storm or flood damage?

Yes. Any repair to a flood-damaged building needs a Construction Services permit, and damage of 50 percent or more of the building’s value means it must be removed or brought fully up to the floodplain rules.

Can I build a house for short-term rental?

Only in zones that allow rentals under 90 days; most residential zones in the city do not.

Simplify Myrtle Beach permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in South Carolina. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Myrtle Beach permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.