The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / City of Myrtle Beach - Construction Services Department

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Adopted code

City of Myrtle Beach - Construction Services Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Myrtle Beach, SC, issued by City of Myrtle Beach - Construction Services Department. A residential reroof in the City of Myrtle Beach needs a building permit; the Construction Services Department's residential FAQ lists "roof and siding replacement" among work for which "A permit is required". Fill out the City's Building Permit Application and email it, with HOA approval if applicable, to [email protected]; the Department says it will contact you "as soon as your permit is ready to be picked up by email or phone." Fees are paid by phone, by appointment or by mail to P.O. Box 2468, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578. Every contractor needs a City of Myrtle Beach business license, and state law requires the permit office to see evidence of the contractor's Residential Builders Commission registration or licence, or of an exemption, before it issues the permit. Schedule inspections at 843-918-1111 with the permit number, the type of inspection and the job address. The Department's Roof Verification form, signed by the contractor, owner or agent under the permit number, certifies the sheathing nailing and that "The shingles have been installed per the 2021 IRC", with the number of galvanized nails per shingle and the nail size, at a minimum of 1 1/4 inches. Starting without a permit costs double: "Where work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fees herein specified shall be doubled". Check that the address is inside the city limits first; property outside them is permitted by another jurisdiction.

Roof code checklist: Myrtle Beach, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYes&RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PROCEDURES AN...2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedR105.2&RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PROCEDURES AN...2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803library.municode.com2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedR301.2.1Horry County.pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 6-300library.municode.com2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYesscstatehouse.gov2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedST575.pdf2026-09-26

Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.

Jurisdiction
City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
921 N Oak St, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Contact
  • url: https://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/departments/construction_services_department.php
  • phone: 843-918-1111
  • email: [email protected]
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Roofing is a named Residential Specialty Contractor classification of the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission: "Roofers: the installation, alteration and repair of materials common to the residential building industry that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks, including all accessories, flashing, valleys, gravel stops and roof insulation panels above the roof deck." A residential specialty contractor is one who contracts to do "construction work, repairs, improvement, or reimprovement which requires special skills and involves the use of specialized construction trades or craft, when the undertakings exceed five hundred dollars" (S.C. Code Section 40-59-20), and "all residential specialty contractors must be registered" by the Commission (Section 40-59-220(A)). When the cost of an undertaking for an individual property owner "exceeds five thousand dollars, the residential specialty contractor must obtain an executed bond" (Section 40-59-220(D)). The permit office "shall refuse to issue a permit for an undertaking which requires licensure or registration under this chapter unless the applicant has furnished evidence that he is either licensed or registered in accordance with this chapter or exempt from the requirements of this chapter" (Section 40-59-280). Section 40-59-260 states that the chapter "does not apply to an owner of residential property who improves the property" where the owner "does the work himself, with his own employees, or with licensed contractors or registered entities or individuals" and the structure is for the owner's or family's own occupancy and not for sale or rent, and Section 40-59-270 states that the chapter "does not apply to a person licensed under Chapter 11" for that work.
  • city_level: The City of Myrtle Beach sets no roofing credential of its own. Its building permit application asks for each contractor's "City License #" and "State License #", and the Department's residential submittal requirements state that "all contractors must have a valid City of Myrtle Beach business license in order to operate in the City limits"; its residential inspection procedures add that "All subcontractors must have a business license with the City of Myrtle Beach for each job prior to starting work." A business license is a tax registration, not a trade credential. The City's Master Trade Card, and its rule that trade permits go only to "a state licensed mechanical contractor or a certified master tradesman possessing a current business license" (City Code Section 6-5), cover electrical, mechanical, gas and plumbing work, not roofing. The City's Business License Division also asks each prime contractor to file a Subcontractor Roster, which lists "Roofing" among its trade descriptions.
Permit process note
A residential reroof in the City of Myrtle Beach needs a building permit; the Construction Services Department's residential FAQ lists "roof and siding replacement" among work for which "A permit is required". Fill out the City's Building Permit Application and email it, with HOA approval if applicable, to [email protected]; the Department says it will contact you "as soon as your permit is ready to be picked up by email or phone." Fees are paid by phone, by appointment or by mail to P.O. Box 2468, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578. Every contractor needs a City of Myrtle Beach business license, and state law requires the permit office to see evidence of the contractor's Residential Builders Commission registration or licence, or of an exemption, before it issues the permit. Schedule inspections at 843-918-1111 with the permit number, the type of inspection and the job address. The Department's Roof Verification form, signed by the contractor, owner or agent under the permit number, certifies the sheathing nailing and that "The shingles have been installed per the 2021 IRC", with the number of galvanized nails per shingle and the nail size, at a minimum of 1 1/4 inches. Starting without a permit costs double: "Where work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fees herein specified shall be doubled". Check that the address is inside the city limits first; property outside them is permitted by another jurisdiction.
Inspection requirements
Inspections are scheduled by calling 843-918-1111; call by 4:00 p.m. the day before for a morning inspection, or by 9:00 a.m. for an afternoon inspection the same day. The request should give the building permit number, the type of inspection, the job site address, a contact name, phone and email, the day, and A.M. or P.M. The City's approved plans and permit must be on the job site, and a $100.00 re-inspection fee may be imposed where an inspection fails because the work is not ready. The Department's Roof Verification form, signed by the contractor, owner or agent under the permit number, certifies the roof sheathing nailing and that the shingles were installed per the 2021 IRC and the manufacturer's installation recommendation.
Adopted code
City Code Section 6-300 (Ord. No. 2013-4, as amended by Ord. No. 2013-63) provides that "Pursuant to South Carolina Title 6, Chapter 9, as may be amended by the General Assembly, the City of Myrtle Beach hereby adopts the latest editions of the following national codes and the standards referenced, or as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council", including the International Residential Code, by reference. It names no edition and makes no technical amendment; it deems excluded only code provisions on department and official names, officials and appeals boards, the establishment of fees, and nuisance and unsafe-building procedures. The Construction Services Department states that the Building Codes Council adopted the 2021 codes with modifications "to be enforced by all municipalities and counties in South Carolina" with an implementation date of January 1, 2023, and its residential submittal requirements state that "All single-family dwellings are reviewed using the International Residential Code (IRC) 2021 standards (with modifications)." At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) requires every municipality to enforce the building codes the Building Codes Council adopts and provides that "The municipality or county shall enforce only the national building and safety codes provided in this chapter." The 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications (S.C. Code of Regulations 8-1200 et seq.) is the mandatory state residential code for permits applied for before January 1, 2027, the date the Building Codes Council set for local jurisdictions to implement the 2024 edition with South Carolina modifications (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 5, May 22, 2026). The Council's notice, which the City republishes, states that "Only the modifications approved and listed on the Council's website are valid for use in the State", and the Council's list of approved local modifications carries none for the City of Myrtle Beach. The one South Carolina change to the roofing chapter replaces the drip-edge section: "A drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges of asphalt shingle roofs where required by the manufacturer." (Reg. 8-1228, IRC Section R905.2.8.5.) The City's building chapter (Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, read in full) carries no roofing rule of its own.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the City of Myrtle Beach's building chapter (Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, including Section 6-300 adopting the state codes) nor the South Carolina modifications to the 2021 International Residential Code amends the roofing chapter's impact provisions, and the Building Codes Council lists no approved modification for the City; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the City's adopted code or its amendments.
Repair permit threshold
The City of Myrtle Beach publishes no size, area or dollar threshold below which roof work needs no permit. The Construction Services Department's residential FAQ states: "A permit is required for replacement windows, porch enclosures, roof and siding replacement and interior alterations. A building permit application and HOA approval (if applicable) are required for this type of work." The City's Schedule of Building Permit Charges for "Single-family construction, and/or alterations, or repairs of any type structure" charges no fee on the lowest band and says of it "Less than $1,000 No permit fee, permit required"; from $1,000 to $5,000 the fee is $50.00, then $50.00 for the first $5,000 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000 up to $25,000, and the Department's FY26 Permit Fee Schedule carries the same bands. City Code Section 6-300 adopts the residential code without amending its permit-exemption section (Section R105.2), which is not restated here.
Wind design criteria
South Carolina requires construction "in accordance with the previously published maps by the South Carolina Building Codes Council", provides that "The local building official may delineate the wind design category within their jurisdiction provided that it does not surpass those provided on the Applied Technology Council (ATC) website", and adds that "Asphalt shingles shall be designed for wind speeds in accordance with Section R905.2.4" (Reg. 8-1202, IRC Section R301.2.1). The Council's Horry County wind and seismic map, approved for the 2021 code cycle, shows a 150 MPH line offshore along the Atlantic coast, east of Myrtle Beach, and a 140 MPH line running north to south through the western part of the County. Its note reads "Wind speed, shown in miles per hour, applies at all points along the length of its corresponding (blue) line. Interpolation between wind speed lines is determined by the AHJ as permitted by Figure R301.2(4)(A) of the 2015 International Residential Code." So the design speed for a Myrtle Beach address falls between 140 and 150 mph and is set by the City's building official; the City publishes no figure of its own, so ask the Construction Services Department for the speed at your site before choosing shingle wind ratings under Table R905.2.4.1.
Roof layer limit / recover
Two layers maximum. The 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, bars a roof recover "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering", as well as "Where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing" and "Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile." The South Carolina modifications to the 2021 IRC do not change the reroofing section, and the City of Myrtle Beach's building chapter (Chapter 6, read in full) adopts the residential code without amendment and adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base rule applies unmodified. The 2024 edition the Council has adopted, with an implementation date of January 1, 2027, carries the same condition among the Exceptions to Section R908.4.
Deck & sheathing requirements
The City of Myrtle Beach applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. Neither the City's building chapter (Chapter 6, read in full, including Section 6-300) nor the South Carolina modifications amend the roof sheathing provisions (Section R803), so the base IRC provisions on roof sheathing apply unmodified. The Construction Services Department's Roof Verification form, filed under a permit number and signed by the contractor, owner or agent, certifies that "This roof sheathing has been nailed per the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) with .131 diameter nails", with the edge and field spacing in inches filled in; the form leaves the spacing blank and sets no figure of its own.
Sales & use tax
9% in the City of Myrtle Beach: 6% state sales tax plus local taxes of 3% (Education Capital Improvement, Transportation Tax and Tourism Development; codes 5261, 1026 and 2615), per the South Carolina Department of Revenue's form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26). Unincorporated Horry County and the other Horry County towns listed on ST-575 do not carry the Tourism Development tax, so check that the job address is inside the city limits. South Carolina taxes the roofer's materials, not the homeowner's contract: S.C. Code Regs. 117-314.2 provides that "Building materials when purchased by builders, contractors, or landowners for use in adding to, repairing or altering real property are subject to either the sales or use tax at the time of purchase by such builder, contractor, or landowner", and its list of building materials names "roofing materials". Repair and replacement work are treated alike.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaCity hub

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The City of Myrtle Beach Construction Services Department issues building permits and trade permits, reviews construction plans and makes the construction inspections for property inside the city limits of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in Horry County. Permit applications are submitted to the Department by email, and inspections are scheduled by phone.

Hail reports near Myrtle Beach, SC

Reports, last 24 months
1
Largest, last 24 months
1.00 in Apr 23, 2025
Most recent
Apr 23, 2025 1.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
4
4 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Apr 23, 20251.00 in6 mi WSW
Aug 1, 20241.00 in7 mi WSW
May 15, 20241.00 in4 mi NNW
Jul 4, 20230.75 in8 mi N

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database and daily storm reports (reports since the start of the current year are preliminary), within 10 miles of Myrtle Beach, SC (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Myrtle Beach, SC? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

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Sources

Roofing questions: Myrtle Beach, SC

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Myrtle Beach, SC. The City of Myrtle Beach publishes no size, area or dollar threshold below which roof work needs no permit. The Construction Services Department's residential FAQ states: "A permit is required for replacement windows, porch enclosures, roof and siding replacement and interior alterations. A building permit application and HOA approval (if applicable) are required for this type of work." The City's Schedule of Building Permit Charges for "Single-family construction, and/or alterations, or repairs of any type structure" charges no fee on the lowest band and says of it "Less than $1,000 No permit fee, permit required"; from $1,000 to $5,000 the fee is $50.00, then $50.00 for the first $5,000 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000 up to $25,000, and the Department's FY26 Permit Fee Schedule carries the same bands. City Code Section 6-300 adopts the residential code without amending its permit-exemption section (Section R105.2), which is not restated here.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Two layers maximum. The 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, bars a roof recover "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering", as well as "Where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing" and "Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile." The South Carolina modifications to the 2021 IRC do not change the reroofing section, and the City of Myrtle Beach's building chapter (Chapter 6, read in full) adopts the residential code without amendment and adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base rule applies unmodified. The 2024 edition the Council has adopted, with an implementation date of January 1, 2027, carries the same condition among the Exceptions to Section R908.4.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Yes.

What building code does Myrtle Beach, SC use?

City Code Section 6-300 (Ord. No. 2013-4, as amended by Ord. No. 2013-63) provides that "Pursuant to South Carolina Title 6, Chapter 9, as may be amended by the General Assembly, the City of Myrtle Beach hereby adopts the latest editions of the following national codes and the standards referenced, or as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council", including the International Residential Code, by reference. It names no edition and makes no technical amendment; it deems excluded only code provisions on department and official names, officials and appeals boards, the establishment of fees, and nuisance and unsafe-building procedures. The Construction Services Department states that the Building Codes Council adopted the 2021 codes with modifications "to be enforced by all municipalities and counties in South Carolina" with an implementation date of January 1, 2023, and its residential submittal requirements state that "All single-family dwellings are reviewed using the International Residential Code (IRC) 2021 standards (with modifications)." At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) requires every municipality to enforce the building codes the Building Codes Council adopts and provides that "The municipality or county shall enforce only the national building and safety codes provided in this chapter." The 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications (S.C. Code of Regulations 8-1200 et seq.) is the mandatory state residential code for permits applied for before January 1, 2027, the date the Building Codes Council set for local jurisdictions to implement the 2024 edition with South Carolina modifications (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 5, May 22, 2026). The Council's notice, which the City republishes, states that "Only the modifications approved and listed on the Council's website are valid for use in the State", and the Council's list of approved local modifications carries none for the City of Myrtle Beach. The one South Carolina change to the roofing chapter replaces the drip-edge section: "A drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges of asphalt shingle roofs where required by the manufacturer." (Reg. 8-1228, IRC Section R905.2.8.5.) The City's building chapter (Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, read in full) carries no roofing rule of its own.