Horry County Pool Fence Requirements 2026: Unincorporated County Guide

Horry County at a Glance

Fence Required?

State: no statewide rule; the pool code applies only where the county or city adopts it (S.C. Code 6-9-60). Unincorporated Horry County: yes, 2018 ISPSC through the county pool fence affidavit

Minimum Height

48 inches, measured outside

Maximum Opening

4 inches

Gate Requirements

Open outward, self-closing, self-latching, able to take a lock

Permit Required

Yes; notarized pool fence affidavit

Before Use

All county inspections approved

Horry County's Pool Code: the 2018 ISPSC

South Carolina does not make every county enforce a pool code. The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) is a permissive code that applies only where a county or city adopts it (S.C. Code 6-9-60; SC Building Codes Council). Horry County Code Enforcement's pool fence affidavit states that all swimming pools shall conform to the 2018 ISPSC, and attaches its Section 305 barrier rules:

A barrier at least 48 inches high, measured on the side away from the pool, all the way around and for 3 feet out from it
No more than 2 inches under the barrier over soil or grass, 4 inches over a solid surface
No opening a 4-inch sphere can pass, and chain link openings no larger than 1¾ inches
A 36-inch clear zone outside the barrier, free of structures or equipment a child could climb (305.2.9)
The pool side of the barrier at least 20 inches from the water's edge (305.2.10)
Pedestrian gates that open outward, close and latch by themselves, and can take a lock
A latch release under 54 inches on the pool side, at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, with no opening over 1/2 inch within 18 inches

What the County Affidavit Adds

The owner signs the affidavit before a notary and accepts responsibility for a barrier that meets Section 305. It also says:

All swimming pools shall be enclosed by barriers and gates.
All doors with direct access to the pool, and operable windows where the wall acts as a barrier, shall be equipped with an alarm.
The barrier, gates and alarms are inspected at the final pool inspection, so they must be in place before it is requested.
The pool shall not be used until Horry County has conducted and approved all applicable inspections.
The permit stays in good standing for 180 days, and each inspection renews it for another 180 days.

Section 305 of the ISPSC also allows a safety cover or another approved protection where a house wall is part of the barrier. The county's affidavit names alarms, so ask Code Enforcement before you plan on another option.

Permits

Horry County's building permit guidance follows the 2021 International Residential Code: a fence no more than 7 feet high and a prefabricated pool less than 24 inches deep are exempt from a building permit, and a zoning compliance review may still be needed. A pool barrier is inspected as part of the pool permit, with the affidavit on file.

Horry County: Who Sets the Rule

The county's affidavit covers pools permitted by Horry County Code Enforcement, which serves unincorporated areas.

Area	What we verified
Unincorporated Horry County, such as Carolina Forest and Socastee	2018 ISPSC barrier rules through the county pool fence affidavit. Permits through Horry County Code Enforcement.
Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach and the county's other towns	Separate building departments. Ask whether the town has adopted the ISPSC, which edition, and what it adds.

South Carolina's Building Codes Council has adopted 2024 editions of the mandatory codes for use from January 1, 2027, and keeps the ISPSC on the permissive list, so a county's pool code edition can change. Confirm the current edition when you apply.

Pool Fence Cost in Horry County: National Ranges

We found no published source that prices pool fences by state or city, so these are national installed ranges from our pool fence cost guide. Quotes where you live can land above or below them.

Material	Installed, per linear foot	Full breakdown
Removable mesh	$15 to $35	Mesh fence cost
Aluminum	$30 to $60	Aluminum fence cost
Vinyl / PVC	$20 to $45	Vinyl fence cost
Tempered glass	$90 to $500	Glass fence cost

National typical installed ranges, not quotes. Multiply by your fence perimeter. Some sources include one gate in the figure; extra gates, permits and hard deck surfaces add to the total. Sources: HomeGuide (Feb 3, 2026), Life Saver Pool Fence (Aug 5 and Sep 23, 2026) and Pool Guard USA (May 20, 2025). Full source list and method: pool fence cost guide. Reviewed September 2026.

Find Horry County Pool Fence Installers

Request quotes through Angi. Ask each installer how they handle the county pool fence affidavit and its alarm rule before you sign.

Find Horry County Installers

Sources

Every rule on this page traces to one of these. We link the primary source so you can check it yourself.

Horry County Code Enforcement, Pool Fence Affidavit (2018 ISPSC, enclosure and alarm rules, inspections, permit term; attached Section 305 text)
Horry County, When to Get a Building Permit (2021 IRC exemptions for fences and small prefabricated pools)
South Carolina Building Codes Council, Building Codes in Effect (the ISPSC as a permissive code)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pool fence requirements in Horry County?

Pools permitted by Horry County must meet the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code: a barrier at least 48 inches high, no opening a 4-inch sphere can pass, outward-opening self-closing and self-latching gates, and the barrier at least 20 inches from the water's edge. The county's affidavit also requires every pool to be enclosed and alarms where the house wall is part of the barrier.

Does Horry County require pool alarms?

Where a wall of the house acts as part of the barrier, the county affidavit says all doors with direct access to the pool and operable windows in that wall shall be equipped with an alarm. Ask Code Enforcement if you plan to use another option the ISPSC lists.

How far from the water does a pool fence have to be in Horry County?

Under the 2018 ISPSC that Horry County applies, the pool side of the barrier must be at least 20 inches from the water's edge (Section 305.2.10).

Do Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach follow the county rule?

Not necessarily. The county's affidavit covers pools Horry County Code Enforcement permits. Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and the county's other towns run their own building departments, so ask yours which pool code it has adopted.

When can I use my pool in Horry County?

Only after Horry County has conducted and approved all applicable inspections. The barrier, gates and alarms are checked at the final pool inspection.

Horry County Pool Fencing: Plan the Alarms Early

In unincorporated Horry County, build the barrier to the 2018 ISPSC, keep it at least 20 inches from the water, and if the house is part of the barrier, plan on alarms on the doors and low windows that open onto the pool area.

Inside a town, confirm the local pool code with that town's building department before you order fencing.

Full state guide: South Carolina Pool Fence Requirements, how state law leaves the pool code to counties and cities, and complete details.