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Horry County to revisit tow‑truck ordinance after cross‑county conflicts and insurance concerns
Summary
Staff told council the county’s tow ordinance, last updated about a decade ago, requires in-county storage and higher insurance for rotation towing; members asked staff to draft changes to allow consensual out‑of‑county tows while protecting nonconsensual rotation spots for local firms.
County staff told the council that Horry County’s tow-truck ordinance has not been substantially revised in about 10 years and currently requires tow companies to have a storage lot inside the county and elevated insurance coverage for rotation service, a rule that has led to cross-county conflicts and industry pushback.
Staff described two core problems: out‑of‑county companies that serve nearby towns (for example, Georgetown or Murrells Inlet) technically violate the storage-lot requirement when responding to consensual calls in Horry County, yet local motorists often expect to call their customary provider; and the county’s higher insurance requirement for the official rotation can deter some companies from participating.
The staff presenter said the ordinance’s original purpose was to curb predatory, nonconsensual towing at paid lots and motels. “The whole purpose of the ordinance, to my understanding when it was passed, was to stop predatory towing,” the presenter said, adding that the county could consider distinguishing consensual tows (private calls) from nonconsensual rotation tows handled for enforcement.
Council members proposed options including allowing out‑of‑county firms to handle purely consensual tows without the county’s rotation insurance, limiting the number of rotation vendors with defined requirements, or creating a separate inspection/insurance regime for consensual providers. One suggestion was to set a fixed number of rotation slots and publish application requirements so companies could apply for county rotation status.
Council instructed staff to work on draft language and return with a resolution or ordinance revisions; staff agreed to form a team to prepare the proposed changes for council review. No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting and no new rotation list was approved.
Votes at the meeting: council later approved several unrelated resolutions by voice vote, including acceptance of certain roads and drainage into the county maintenance system, a temporary transfer of up to $45 million to the Ride 4 transportation fund (with a two‑year return requirement), an airport reimbursement resolution required by IRS rules, designation of July 2025 as Parks and Recreation Month, amended Parks and Open Space Board bylaws, and a congratulatory resolution for Aynor High School’s softball championship.
