Horry County Administrator

Late Night Establishment Preclearance Letter (alcohol on premises, midnight to 6 a.m.)

Code §12.5-171, in the Horry County Code of Ordinances as published on Municode (version of August 12, 2026), regulates "late night establishments that offer or allow on-premises consumption of alcohol and that operate between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. within the unincorporated areas of Horry County". §12.5-172 defines a late night establishment as "a commercial establishment that offers or allows consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises and that is open for use by patrons, for any length of time, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m." Under §12.5-173(a) it is unlawful to begin operating one after January 1, 2017 without a valid preclearance letter, and "No person shall apply for a certificate of zoning compliance or approval of a special exception to operate a late night establishment before obtaining a late night establishment preclearance letter"; the letter itself does not authorize operation, and the zoning compliance or special exception is still needed. The application is filed in person, notarized, at "the office of the Horry County Administrator (or such office as the administrator may designate)" (§12.5-173(b)). Under §12.5-174(a) the fees are a $250.00 annual regulatory fee and a $250.00 one-time nonrefundable investigative fee, both paid with the application, and the letter is valid for one calendar year, renewable by paying the annual fee (§12.5-174(b)). The county's Business License Application Instructions page states: "If you are planning on being open after 12:00 midnight, Horry County Police Dept. requires that you obtain a Pre-clearance letter before we can issue a zoning compliance or apply for a Special Exception." State alcohol licenses are separate state records.