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Zoning board denies variance for unpermitted pool‑area structure at Murrells Inlet home
Summary
Horry County zoning board denied a variance request for a freestanding 15×15 porch/kitchen built without permits at 896 Kittiwake Lane after staff review and neighbor objection. The applicant said he replaced an earlier structure; board members cited setback and safety concerns.
The Horry County Zoning Board denied a request to legalize a freestanding porch and outdoor kitchen built without a permit at 896 Kittiwake Lane in Murrells Inlet. Staff told the board the 15-by-15-foot structure sits about 2.9 feet from the left property line and 2.1 feet from the rear line on a substandard 5,627-square-foot lot, creating variances of roughly 3.72 feet and 9.15 feet from required setbacks.
Applicant Martin Allen Whittemore told the board, “So when we went into this project, there was actually a structure already there, and what we were doing was replacing it.” He said existing gas and electrical lines dated to the prior structure. Board members questioned whether the replacement met safety and fire-rating requirements and whether it created hazards for adjacent properties. After discussion and a motion to approve with staff conditions, multiple members voted against the variance and the chair announced the application was denied.
Why it mattered: Staff flagged that the lot predates current zoning and the new structure was built without required permits; neighbors had submitted opposition. The board’s denial leaves the structure nonconforming pending any further appeal or correction by the owner.
