TL;DR: Some Myrtle Beach development projects go through public hearings and multiple council votes, while others need no approval at all because existing zoning already permits them. Knowing which path a project takes tells you whether you'll get advance notice about construction near a property you're considering.
Buyers searching for a list of approved Myrtle Beach development projects usually come up empty, and there's a reason for that. A meaningful share of residential development along the Grand Strand never appears on any approval list, because projects that already conform to their zoning don't require a vote from anyone. Meanwhile, projects that do need approval move through a process with several stages, where an item can be deferred repeatedly before any decision happens. Two neighboring jurisdictions handle this in completely different ways. Here's what the public record shows for 2026, and how to read it.
What Myrtle Beach Development Projects Were Approved in 2026
Inside city limits, some of the clearest signals come from street name approvals. Under E911 addressing requirements, any access serving more than three units must be named — so a street name application reveals a project's size well before construction starts.
At its July 21, 2026 meeting, the City of Myrtle Beach Planning Commission approved three:
A drive serving five multifamily buildings, approved contingent on site plan approval
A drive serving 40 proposed townhome units off Highway 15 and 17th Avenue South
A drive near South Oak Street and 11th Avenue South serving 10 proposed residential units, with a second phase to return later
City Council also unanimously renewed the Downtown Municipal Improvement District on June 24, 2026. The district covers downtown and Ocean Boulevard from 21st Avenue North to 11th Avenue South, including Broadway Street and the Arts & Innovation District. Commercial property owners inside the district pay an additional assessment — roughly $600 per year on a property valued at $1 million — and by law that money must be spent within the district. Owner-occupied homes are not assessed.
A separate item remains unresolved. The city proposed an overlay zone limiting nightclubs, bars, and other drinking places with occupancy above 150 persons along the Ocean Boulevard corridor. Existing establishments as of May 12, 2026 would continue as non-conforming uses. The Planning Commission workshopped boundaries on July 21 and set a public hearing for August 4, 2026.
Why Some Projects Never Need Approval At All
This is where most confusion starts.
In July 2026, the City of Myrtle Beach addressed a proposal to subdivide the Grande Dunes Tennis Club property into 31 single-family residential lots. Residents raised concerns at a City Council meeting. But the city explained that the property's existing zoning already permits both a tennis facility and a single-family subdivision.
Because the residential use conforms to current zoning, the project required no rezoning and no City Council approval, and it wasn't treated as an amendment to the Grande Dunes Planned Unit Development. The city stated plainly that City Council lacked authority to approve or deny the owner's decision.
The Planning Commission's role in that situation is narrow. It evaluates subdivision applications against South Carolina law and city ordinances — not against community sentiment. City code doesn't require public input in the subdivision process at all, though staff agreed to review the language used on agendas and public notification signage.
The practical takeaway for anyone buying near vacant or underused land: zoning tells you more about what can happen next door than any approval calendar does.
How the Horry County Rezoning Path Works
Unincorporated Horry County runs a longer process. A rezoning request goes to a Planning Commission public hearing, then to the Infrastructure & Regulations Committee, then to three separate readings by County Council before adoption.
The July 2, 2026 Planning Commission agenda listed nine rezoning requests ranging from roughly one acre to 238.66 acres, two amendments to the Future Land Use Map of the Imagine 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and two development agreements. Several items carried a "deferred" or "previously deferred" label — a reminder that appearing on an agenda is not the same as being approved.
Requests spanned Conway, Longs, Little River, and Galivants Ferry. Several sought to convert Forest Agriculture or Commercial Forest Agriculture land to residential or retail categories, which is the mechanism by which rural county acreage becomes buildable. If you're tracking where growth is heading, this is the conversion to watch — a pattern explored further in our look at South Carolina growth patterns around Myrtle Beach.
Public input requires registering with the Planning Department one hour before the meeting.
2026 Development Actions on the Public Record
| Date (2026) | Jurisdiction | Item | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 24 | City of Myrtle Beach | Downtown Municipal Improvement District renewal | Approved unanimously by City Council |
| July 2 | Horry County | 9 rezoning requests, 2 land use map amendments, 2 development agreements | Scheduled for public hearing; several deferred |
| July 15 | City of Myrtle Beach | 31-lot single-family subdivision proposal | Permitted under existing zoning; no council approval required |
| July 21 | City of Myrtle Beach | Street name — drive serving 5 multifamily buildings | Approved, contingent on site plan approval |
| July 21 | City of Myrtle Beach | Street name — drive serving 40 proposed townhome units | Approved |
| July 21 | City of Myrtle Beach | Street name — drive serving 10 proposed residential units | Approved; phase two to return later |
| August 4 | City of Myrtle Beach | Ocean Boulevard drinking place overlay zone | Public hearing scheduled; outcome not reflected here |
Sources: City of Myrtle Beach (June–July 2026) and Horry County Planning Commission agenda (July 2, 2026). Items listed as scheduled had not been decided in the records reviewed.
Where New Construction Is Actually Concentrating
Approval records show intent. Sales data shows results — and the two point in noticeably different directions.
According to the Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® Annual Report (current as of January 10, 2026), new construction accounted for 33.7% of closed sales across Horry County in 2025. But that share varies enormously by area:
Loris / Longs: 64.0%
Aynor: 49.4%
Carolina Forest: 42.4%
Socastee: 41.4%
Myrtle Beach: 5.6%
That last figure surprises people. Inside the Myrtle Beach area, 73.3% of 2025 closed sales were townhouse or condo properties, and new construction made up a small fraction. Detached new construction is largely a county and outlying-area story, while city-limits development skews toward attached housing and infill — which is exactly what those July street name approvals reflect. For a closer look at where that inventory sits, see our guide to new construction communities in Myrtle Beach.
Checking a Specific Property Before You Buy
Jurisdiction determines everything, and mailing addresses mislead. One item on the July 2 county agenda was described as located in Myrtle Beach — meaning unincorporated Horry County with a Myrtle Beach postal address, governed by county rules rather than city ordinances.
Before relying on any development assumption:
Confirm which jurisdiction actually governs the parcel
Check the current zoning, since that determines what's permitted without any vote
Review recent Planning Commission agendas for the correct jurisdiction
Look for street name applications nearby, which often precede visible construction
Verify whether an item was approved, deferred, or withdrawn — agendas list scheduled items, not outcomes
Broader migration and demand trends shaping these decisions are covered in our analysis of the Myrtle Beach market's soft landing.
Consult with a licensed professional regarding your specific situation. Zoning classifications and pending ordinances change; verify current details with the governing jurisdiction.
If you're weighing a lot or a home and want to understand what existing zoning permits nearby — or whether a parcel sits inside city limits or in unincorporated Horry County — those questions are worth answering before you commit. We work through zoning, jurisdiction, and site conditions with buyers across the Grand Strand every week. Reach out and we'll walk through what the public record shows for the specific property you're considering.
FAQ SECTION
Where can I find a list of approved Myrtle Beach development projects?
No single consolidated list exists, and that's the honest answer. Approvals are split across jurisdictions — the City of Myrtle Beach Planning Commission and City Council handle projects inside city limits, while the Horry County Planning Commission and County Council handle unincorporated areas. Each publishes its own agendas and minutes. Projects that conform to existing zoning may never appear on any approval agenda, because they don't require a vote. Checking a specific parcel's zoning and jurisdiction is more reliable than searching for a master list.
Can a developer build next to me without any public approval?
Yes, if the proposed use already complies with the property's zoning. The City of Myrtle Beach confirmed this in July 2026 regarding a proposed 31-lot subdivision, stating that City Council had no authority to approve or deny it because existing zoning already permitted the use. City code doesn't require public input in the subdivision process. This is why reviewing zoning on adjacent parcels matters more than monitoring meeting agendas.
How long does a rezoning take in Horry County?
The published path runs through a Planning Commission public hearing, then the Infrastructure & Regulations Committee, then three separate readings by County Council. Items can also be deferred at any stage — the July 2, 2026 agenda included several requests carried over from earlier meetings, some dating to filings from March. The process is designed for review at multiple points, so timelines vary considerably by request.
Does a street name approval mean construction is starting?
Not immediately, but it's a strong signal. E911 addressing requirements mandate that any access serving more than three units be named, so applications typically arrive during permitting. Approvals may also be contingent — one July 2026 approval was conditioned on site plan approval, with the fire department raising questions about site circulation separate from the name itself. It indicates a project is progressing through review, not that ground has broken.
Is new construction more common in Myrtle Beach or surrounding areas?
Surrounding areas, by a wide margin. According to CCAR (current as of January 10, 2026), new construction represented 33.7% of Horry County closed sales in 2025, but only 5.6% within the Myrtle Beach area, where 73.3% of sales were townhouse or condo properties. Loris/Longs led at 64.0%, followed by Aynor at 49.4% and Carolina Forest at 42.4%. Detached new construction concentrates outside the city core.
How do I tell if a property is inside Myrtle Beach city limits?
Mailing addresses don't answer this. A property can carry a Myrtle Beach postal address while sitting in unincorporated Horry County under county zoning — one item on the July 2, 2026 county agenda was described exactly that way. Since city and county ordinances differ on permitted uses, setbacks, and short-term rentals, confirm jurisdiction through the governing planning department or county GIS records before making assumptions.
Sources
Horry County Government (Planning Commission Agenda, July 2, 2026): https://horrycountysc.gov/
City of Myrtle Beach (Council and Planning Commission records, June–July 2026): https://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® (Annual Report, current as of January 10, 2026): https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
