Myrtle Beach City Zoning Code

All areas within the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Myrtle Beach are hereby divided into zoning districts. Each general use district category serves a different purpose and imposes its own set of requirements and restrictions on the use of land in addition to the general requirements and restrictions imposed on all land or uses within the zoning jurisdiction. A general use district may be layered with an overlay district, which is a special type of general use district. Within each district the use of land and water areas; the location, height, bulk, appearance and use of structures; the provision of parking and loading areas; and the provision of buffers and screening areas are regulated as herein provided. The purpose of the use districts established herein is:

1401.A.

To group together into several zones those uses that are reasonably compatible with one another according to their normal characteristics of operation;

1401.B.

To permit in connection with these uses those customary and necessary accessory activities which are incidental to the permitted use; and

1401.C.

To permit certain other uses that may be established in some situations and subject to specific conditions so that such special uses will also be compatible with the uses allowed as a matter of right.

In order to accomplish the purposes set forth in section 104 - Purpose and Intent, the following districts are hereby established:

1402.A

C-6 Urban Village District. The establishment of a C-6 district shall require 50 acres or more.

The boundaries of the zoning districts listed in section 1402 - Zoning Districts Named are hereby established as shown on the official Zoning Map of the City of Myrtle Beach which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance. Said official Zoning Map shall be identified by the signature of the mayor, attested by the city clerk, and shall bear the seal of the City under the words "Official Zoning Map, City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina", along with the date of adoption.

Each individual map amendment adopted by City Council shall be interpreted as authorizing the preparation and printing of a revised Zoning Map to reflect this change and shall also amend the date of adoption of the official Zoning Map.

The official Zoning Map shall be located in the office of the zoning administrator and shall be interpreted as including all map amendments approved by the City Council since the adoption of the most recent official Zoning Map, whether or not they are actually portrayed on the printed copy. The official Zoning Map shall be the final authority as to the current zoning designation of the land, water areas, buildings, structures and other uses in the City, notwithstanding any other official Zoning Map purported to be a copy of the official Zoning Map.

All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the City of Myrtle Beach shall automatically be zoned Single-family (R15) district unless otherwise specified by ordinance. The entire abutting right-of-way shall be included with property annexed to the City and shall automatically be zoned the same as the annexed property.

Principal use types are assigned by the zoning administrator to the use type that most closely describes the nature of the principal use. When the principal uses of a development are different, each principal use is classified separately and is subject to all applicable regulations for that use. Developments with multiple principal uses, such as commercial centers, shall incorporate only those uses allowed in the underlying zoning district.

The zoning administrator shall determine the appropriate use type for all land uses and shall determine the appropriate category for a use not specifically listed in Section 1407 - Table of Uses and whether the activities are to be considered principal or accessory uses using, but not limited to, the following considerations:

1406.A.

The actual or projected characteristics of the proposed activity or activities;

1406.B.

The relative amount of site area or floor space and equipment devoted to the proposed activity or activities;

1406.C.

Relative projected of sales volume from each proposed activity;

1406.D.

The customer type for each proposed activity;

1406.E.

The relative number of employees in each activity;

1406.F.

Hours of operation; and

1406.G.

Building and site arrangement.

1407.A.

Principle uses shall be allowed within the base zoning districts of this Ordinance in accordance with section 1407.C - Table of Permitted Uses. Refer to Article 18- Overlay Zone Regulations for additional permitted-use regulations.

1407.B.

The following rules apply to the Tables of Uses in section 1407.C - Table of Permitted Uses:

1.

Permitted Uses. A "P" indicates a use that is permitted by right in the respective zoning district. Permitted uses are also subject to other applicable regulations in this Ordinance.

2.

Conditional Uses. A "C" indicates a use that is allowed conditionally, provided that it meets the additional listed standards contained in Article 15. Conditional uses are also subject to other applicable regulations in this Zoning Ordinance.

3.

Accessory Uses. This article does not regulate accessory uses. For uses customarily accessory to particular uses refer to section 1502 - Accessory Uses.

4.

Special Exceptions. An "S" indicates a use that is allowed only by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a Special Exception, in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 — Board of Zoning Appeals and upon compliance with general conditions in the regulations. Special Exception uses are also subject to other applicable regulations in this Ordinance.

5.

Uses Not Allowed. A blank cell in the Table of Uses indicates that a use is not allowed.

6.

Building Permits. This article does not regulate structure or building permits. For structure and building permit information refer to section 302 - Building, Sign and Vehicular Use Area Permits Required.

1407.C.

Permitted Uses.

P-permitted use
C-conditional use
S-special exception
Blank Cell-use type not allowed

1407.D

Uses permitted in the Arts & Innovation (ART) District.

Purpose & Intent. The intent of the Arts and Innovation District is to create and sustain a walkable mixed-use urban environment that will serve as the hub of artistic, cultural and civic life in the traditional core of downtown Myrtle Beach. As a year-round destination for both residents and visitors, the district's primary uses are supported by a wide range of businesses that help to maintain a vibrant atmosphere. This is further supported by the active use of outdoor spaces for dining and entertainment, and the development of upper-story residences in mixed-use buildings.

Unlike the other zoning districts listed in section 1407.C, uses are permitted in the ART District in the following categories. Examples are provided for explanatory purposes and are not intended as complete lists. A mix of categories and uses sharing spaces is permitted. Classification within the categories will be determined by the Zoning Administrator unless the use is explicitly listed. Innovation within the categories is encouraged.

In general:

1.

All non-residential uses will be closed for business between the hours of 12 AM and 6 AM.

2.

No drive-through windows are permitted.

Use Categories:

Multifamily residential dwelling units and amenities, provided that no permanent dwelling units fronting on the rights-of-way of Oak St, Main St, Broadway St, 8 ^th Ave N, 9 ^th Ave N, Kings Hwy, or Hwy 501 are permitted at ground level.

Offices, including but not limited to accounting, advertising, law, architects, real estate, finance, engineering, government offices, shared office spaces

Service establishments of a personal character, including but not limited to barbers, beauty salons, cosmetologists, but excluding tattoo parlors and body piercers

Lifestyle service establishments including but not limited to decorators, event planners, seamstress, shoe repair, travel agencies, pet groomers, jewelers

Personal health care services, including but not limited to medical, dental, chiropractic, therapeutic, homeopathic

Fitness centers, including but not limited to martial arts, yoga, gyms, personal training

Arts and crafts studios including maker's spaces

Indoor recreation and entertainment, including but not limited to escape rooms, bowling, passive recreation, arcades, miniature golf, museums, billiard parlors, darts, but excluding bingo parlors and sexually oriented businesses

Theaters, including but not limited to comedy clubs, dinner theaters or performance venues or characterized by a visually emphasized performance stage or area that offers patrons paying the ticket or admission fee a fixed seating/table arrangement from which one may view the performance, such as musical groups, improvisational offering, stand-up comedy, plays, skits, ventriloquism, magic and other staged performance art to patrons, with no floor area of greater than 150 square feet for patron dance, while the business purpose is primarily performance viewing, with an accessory purpose of the service of alcoholic beverages, and or food.

Banquet halls and event spaces for persons and entities reserving the space for special occasions including, but not limited to: formal dinners, receptions, reunions, benefits, and club meetings, and may include the onsite consumption of alcohol as an accessory component of food and beverage service; but excluding events charging general admission or a cover charge at the door.

Specialty Retail limited to a maximum of 60 linear feet of principle store frontage, including but not limited to antique dealers, art galleries, home décor, booksellers, music stores, vintage record stores, vintage clothing stores, bakeries, confectionaries, florists, gift shops, pet boutiques, and newsstands, but excluding the primary sale of CBD, vape, liquor, and sexually oriented products

Convenience Retail limited to a maximum of 60 linear feet of principle store frontage, including but not limited to fresh produce, groceries, neighborhood pharmacies, neighborhood hardware stores

Restaurants and food halls; sidewalk cafes and roof-top bistros are encouraged

Bars, brew pubs, and taverns, but excluding nightclubs and sexually oriented businesses

Media establishments and production studios, including but not limited to newspaper, radio, television, streaming

Small-scale manufacturing limited to a maximum of 10,000 square feet, including but not limited to breweries, distilleries, small crafts; provided they meet the "good neighbor" standards of Sec. 1712 regarding sound, smell, pollution, vibration, and electrical disturbance, and further provided that all manner of operations and storage are indoors.

Indoor and outdoor farming provided they meet the "good neighbor" standards of Sec. 1712 regarding sound, smell, pollution, vibration, and electrical disturbance

Dry cleaners and laundromats

Religious establishments providing for religious service and development, provided the minimum lot size is 1.25 acres.

Schools for educating children or adults

Permanent indoor and outdoor marketplaces, including but not limited to food truck parks and spaces for farmers, artisans, fishermen, florists, and bakers

Business incubators, including but not limited to those for chefs, artists, craftsmen, pop-up businesses, innovative concepts

Local government offices, buildings and facilities, including but not limited to libraries, in a walkable, cohesive, campus

Visitor Accommodations, including but not limited to boutiques hotels and bed & breakfasts parking lots and garages

Vending Machines, ATMs, Newspaper/Advertising Boxes shall not be located outside.

(Ord. No. 2024-20, 3-26-24; Ord. No. 2024-24, 4-23-24; Ord. No. 2024-52, 8-27-24; Ord. No. 2024-55, 9-10-24)