Horry County council adopts amended impact-fee ordinance after builders urge care on affordability

Horry County Council voted July 14 to adopt Ordinance 30-2026, an amended development impact-fee measure enacted under the South Carolina Impact Fee Act, after a public hearing and packet amendments.

The Horry-Georgetown Home Builders Association’s representative, Stanley Haynes, told the council that the association supports the principle that "growth should pay for growth" but urged careful implementation so fees do not price working families out of homeownership. "Our housing attainability index shows that 65.1% of Horry County families cannot afford the median priced home in this county," Haynes said, urging continued collaboration between builders and county staff.

Council members moved and adopted amendments that were included in the meeting packet; after brief remarks acknowledging affordability concerns, the council voted on the ordinance as amended. The chair announced the vote carried and the ordinance "passes unanimously." The packet amendments were accepted before the final vote.

Why it matters: The ordinance formalizes a county mechanism to charge development impact fees, which are intended to make growth pay for infrastructure needs. Builders and housing advocates say the timing and structure of fees affect housing costs for local workers, making implementation details politically and economically consequential.

What next: Council members noted the ordinance's structure provides room for future adjustments as conditions change; Stanley Haynes asked the council to "keep working with us as this fee structure is implemented" and to revisit it over time.

Authorities referenced: The council cited the South Carolina Impact Fee Act in the ordinance reading and packet materials.

Ending: The ordinance was adopted as amended at the July 14 meeting; related implementation and monitoring will occur through county staff and future council review.