Public news and announcements are brought to you by the Horry County Public Information Office.
On March 26, 2020 in Closings, County News, Emergencies
Today County Council held an emergency meeting and enacted Emergency Ordinance 26-20 prohibiting shorter-term rentals and amusement type activities in the unincorporated areas of Horry County from Saturday, March 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. through April 30, 2020.
Golf courses are not restricted in the ordinance and are allowed to remain open. We continue to encourage appropriate social distancing.
Click to read or download the ordinance.
The Myrtle Beach International Airport and all other airports managed by the Horry County Department of Airports remain open and operational. Horry County Government does not have the authority to make a unilateral decision about the closure of airports. That is under the purview of the Federal Aviation Administration. Airlines can also alter flight schedules. In addition, just like in a hurricane, it is important that the airports remain open for County emergency logistics, including delivery of supplies.
On March 25, 2020 in County News, Emergencies
Today County Council held an emergency meeting and enacted Ordinance 25-20. This emergency ordinance allows County Council to meet virtually. These meetings will be available for the public to view with the opportunity to participate in public hearings, as mandated by law. At this time, no meetings of County Council are scheduled to take place virtually. When those meetings are designated, specific instructions will be provided to the public. Click here to view and download a copy of the ordinance. The Planning Commission Workshop scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, March 26 will be taking place as a virtual workshop. The workshop will be broadcast on the Horry County Government website (link below) as well as the Government Access Channel. At this workshop, there will be no public input, as usual, and in addition, there will be no votes taken. Click to view the agenda or the agenda packet. Click to watch the video remotely.
On March 24, 2020 in County News, Emergencies
As Horry County officials continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, County Council decided to postpone the upcoming Budget Retreat to April 16-17, 2020.
The County will also postpone the Accommodations Tax meeting to April 15, 2020.
County buildings and facilities remain closed to the public. We strongly urge the public to handle business online where possible. We understand that there are crucial transactions that must take place and are not available online. The public is asked to call those departments directly for information and coordination.
During these difficult times, Horry County Memorial Library announces a new eCard option for accessing live homework help, eBooks, online courses, and education/career tools.
With your library card or eCard, you can access:
To obtain an eCard or to inquire into the library’s internet hotspot program for Horry County students, please call 843-915-7323 or email hcml@horrycounty.org
We understand that these are trying and difficult times. We ask our community to be patient and to continue to practice good hygiene and social distancing. We also encourage healthy individuals to donate blood to help offset severe shortages due to the pandemic. Those interested can schedule an appointment at: www.redcrossblood.org
Horry County officials are actively monitoring conditions and will make ongoing adjustments as called for.
On March 20, 2020 in County News, Emergencies
Horry County Government offices remain closed to the public for the week of March 23, 2020. This excludes all airports. Limited court functions will continue. In addition, all state offices in County facilities will remain open, as directed by the Governor.
We strongly urge the public to handle business online where possible. We understand that there are crucial transactions that must take place and are not available online. The public is asked to call those departments directly for information and coordination.
Court for Horry County Magistrate Court and Circuit Court is cancelled the week of March 23. Jurors should not report to the courthouse next week.
The Horry County Emergency phone bank will close at 5:00 p.m. today and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2020.
On March 20, 2020 in County News
As per the state of emergency declared March 14, 2020 by Horry County, Horry County closed its facilities to the public beginning March 18, 2020. As such, the Horry County Register of Deeds Department is closed to the public. The public will not be able to come inside the Register of Deeds Office.
The Horry County Register of Deeds Office has made many of their files remotely accessible to real estate and legal professionals for a number of years. The Horry County ROD has some files that are not digitized and are only available in microfilm and hard copy formats. The ROD will begin offering limited physical access to the Horry County microfilm and digital land records and other files next week.
In response to public demand, and strictly for the purpose of ongoing business and commerce needs, Horry County will allow limited in-person access to public records and use of public equipment for researching property records beginning March 23, 2020. In keeping with the recommended federal guidelines for this recognized public health emergency, Horry County will allow up to 10 members of the public access to its digital and microfilm records on an appointment basis only for a period of no more than 2 hours at a time. There will be no access granted to the Horry County ROD offices. Microfilm records will be made available in a temporary facility that retain the required social distancing requirements for six researchers at a time. In addition, Horry County’s digital ROD files will be accessible on four computer terminals located in a separate existing Public Access room. Only four researchers will be allowed in this room at one time to again maintain social distancing for the safety of the participants.
Members of the public who need to access county facilities for these transactions can make an appointment by calling the Register of Deeds Office at (843) 915-5430 beginning at 9:00 am on Friday March 20, 2020. Reservations will only be accepted for one day at a time to insure fairness. Appointments will be offered on a first come, first serve basis and space is limited. In addition, the Horry County Clerk of Court has also agreed to allow public access for these research needs. The Probate Court will provide records electronically as requested.
In addition, those members of the public that make an appointment and enter the facility will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that they could be exposing themselves or others to a potentially lethal communicable disease and releasing the county from any liability that may result from the use of the facility during this public health emergency. Those with appointments should arrive at the Government and Justice Building 15 minutes prior to their appointment and bring a photo ID.
While the ROD and other county offices are closed to the public, the ROD staff will be at work and will be continuing to record documents. The ROD, with the office closed, has suspended walk in recording and walk in customer service. We will record via e-file, mail, or overnight packages. We will accommodate requests for plat copies via email or phone requests. Staff will print copies, take funds from escrow accounts and place copies with receipt on table outside ROD door. Customer Service document requests will still be accepted as usual via mail requests.
Horry County continues to encourage members of the public to do business online where possible and to call those departments directly for information and coordination.
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