North Myrtle Beach council approves several zoning, parking and vehicle-for-hire ordinance changes; parade permit cleared

North Myrtle Beach City Council voted on multiple second‑reading ordinance amendments and routine items during its Feb. 3 meeting, approving zoning changes, updates to parking rules, adjustments to vehicle‑for‑hire fees and a parade permit.

The actions, taken by voice vote during the regular meeting, affect where structures can project into required yards, landscape area requirements along major thoroughfares, parking flexibility in certain overlay areas and how immobilization device fees for vehicle‑for‑hire providers are handled. The council also approved an annual parking fee exemption amendment that expands eligibility and allows additional passes for Horry County residents, and it approved a permit for the SOS parade scheduled for May 3, 2025.

Council members front‑loaded routine and noncontroversial business and took final votes on several items that had been on second reading. The measures are intended to clarify local code, align some rules with county and state practices, and adjust fee and parking administration.

Votes at a glance

- Accept minutes and scheduled meetings (city council workshop, Feb. 2025 meeting, Feb. 2025 call meeting): Motion to accept passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified in transcript.

- SOS Parade permit for May 3, 2025: Motion approved by voice vote; mover/second not specified in transcript.

- Ordinance, second reading — amendment to Chapter 23 (zoning) addressing structural projections into required yards: Approved on second reading by voice vote; mover/second not specified.

- Ordinance, second reading — amendment to Chapter 23 (zoning) to restore/increase landscape area along major roadways (Sea Mountain Highway, Main Street, Robert Edge Parkway, Champions Boulevard, Water Tower Road): Approved on second reading by voice vote; mover/second not specified.

- Ordinance, second reading — amendment to Chapter 23 (zoning) on parking flexibility and an overlay zone (affecting Crescent Beach, Windy Hill, Main Street areas): Approved on second reading by voice vote; mover/second not specified. Council discussion noted the change is intended to support walkable businesses and restaurants on main thoroughfares.

- Ordinance, second reading — amendment to Chapter 22 (vehicles for hire) clarifying immobilization device fees: Approved on second reading by voice vote; mover/second not specified. The ordinance updates the local code to allow a provider to temporarily charge a $200 immobilization fee with a $75 reimbursement when the device is returned, keeping the effective net charge within the previously intended $125 maximum.

- Ordinance, second reading — amendment to Chapter 12 (traffic) on annual parking fee exemptions and expanded availability (including mobile‑home occupants who do not own land and additional passes for Horry County residents): A council member recused from the item; the measure passed on voice vote. Staff said the additional parking availability is possible because the city purchased more land for paid parking.

- Ordinance, second reading — Parkway Group Plan Development District (PDD), Neighborhood 3 (Wax Myrtle at Watersack): Approved on second reading by voice vote; mover/second not specified. (Related first‑reading items and development agreement matters were discussed later and advanced separately; see separate article.)

What the changes mean

Council members and staff described these as technical and policy cleanups intended to: ease permit processes for ramps/handicap projections into yards, restore landscape buffers along major roads that had been removed in earlier code edits, allow limited parking flexibility to support walkable commercial corridors, and align vehicle‑for‑hire administrative fees with broader county/state practices while preserving the intended net fee limit.

Several votes were taken by voice with no roll‑call totals transcribed in the meeting minutes provided. Where the transcript did not list a mover, seconder or roll‑call tally, this article notes the outcome and records that the vote was taken by voice.

Ending

Council scheduled routine follow‑up and, where required, second readings or related public‑hearing steps on separate agenda items. Several items were noncontroversial; others will be paired with follow‑up workshops or additional materials as requested by council members.