Appendix 533. Noncommercial docks.

It is the intent of Horry County to regulate the construction of noncommercial dock facilities in order to minimize the adverse impacts of such activities upon sensitive natural resources.

Non-commercial docks shall be permitted in all residential districts and commercial districts where residential uses are allowed subject to the following:

533.1 Applicability.

(A)

It shall be unlawful to build, construct, repair or alter any noncommercial dock or portion thereof in the county without conforming to this section.

(B)

Non-commercial boat docks are allowed under the following conditions:

1.

No noncommercial dock shall be designed or constructed to accommodate more than two (2) boats for permanent mooring. No residentially zoned lot shall have more than one (1) dock. For the purposed of this section, personal watercraft lifts shall not be considered a boat slip.

2.

Docks owned and used by a resident of the property in question are a permitted accessory use to the primary residential use;

3.

Docks owned and used by the owner of a property that are not residentially developed is permitted as a principal use provided that:

(a)

The use is limited to one (1) dock for each lot or group of contiguous lots in the same ownership; and

(b)

Dock is allowed to have a roof not to exceed twenty (20) feet in height.

(c)

The boat and docks are owned and primarily used by the owner of the property.

(d)

No dock contemplated by this section shall be enclosed by any means, either permanent or temporary.

(C)

Multi-use/community docks.

1.

A multi-use/community dock, which is any dock owned in common or used by residents of a homeowners association, multi-family development, condominium, cooperative apartment, or any other residential horizontal property regime shall be permitted as a principal use provided that:

(a)

The land area adjacent to the docks is either owned in common or accessible by easement to all residents of the property.

(b)

Use of dock shall be limited to residents of the development served by the dock.

(c)

The total number of boat slips shall not exceed the total number of units within the residential development served by the community dock.

(d)

The dock shall not be used or operated as rental marinas nor shall any person or entity rent any community boat dock except to residents of the subdivision/development served by the dock.

(e)

The total size of the dock shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) square feet, excluding the walkway.

(f)

Dry boat storage is not permitted except within residential garages or within an approved amenity storage area.

(g)

Areas for parking shall meet all applicable screening and landscaping requirements.

533.2 General Provisions:

(A)

Docks must be setback from side property lines a minimum of ten (10) feet from any side lot line extended and a minimum separation of twenty (20) feet from any other dock.

(B)

No space may be sold, rented, or leases for watercraft storage purposes.

(C)

Docks may be provided with electric or water utilities, provided no residential accessory dock shall be served by separately metered utility service.

(D)

Structures permitted herein shall not be used as a dwelling.

(E)

Commercial activities, including, but not limited to, the sale of gasoline, oil, marine supplies, foodstuffs, boat rentals, boat repair, boat sales and storage shall be strictly prohibited.

(F)

If state and/or federal permits are required for the erection of any dock, such permit shall be presented in writing prior to the issuance of any building permit for a dock.

533.3 Special Provisions:

Not withstanding the preceding, a residential dock for the joint use by two (2) or more adjacent waterfront property owners may be permitted where the physical characteristics of the waterfront make it impractical to build individual docks.

(Ord. No. 160-05, § 1, 11-29-05; Ord. No. 26-11, § 2, 5-17-11)