Home › Myrtle Beach › North Myrtle Beach
Four beach towns that became one city
North Myrtle Beach Real Estate: Homes and Condos
North Myrtle Beach has its own personality: a little calmer than the city to the south, with Main Street shag clubs, wide beaches and a mix of cottages and towers.
What is it like to buy in North Myrtle Beach?
North Myrtle Beach is its own city at the northern end of the Grand Strand, formed in 1968 when four beach towns, Windy Hill, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive Beach and Cherry Grove, consolidated (SC Encyclopedia), and it offers oceanfront condos, beach cottages, golf communities and newer homes west of the waterway. It runs its own short-term rental licensing, so rules here differ from the City of Myrtle Beach.
Here is the background, the housing mix and what to check.
How North Myrtle Beach came together
For generations, farmers from western Horry County came by covered wagon to camp behind the dunes and salt barrels of fish to take home, according to the SC Encyclopedia. Ocean Drive Beach became the first of the four towns to incorporate, on June 8, 1948, and the Shag, South Carolina's official dance, grew up in places like the O.D. Pavilion and The Pad (NMB Comprehensive Plan).
Hurricane Hazel struck on October 15, 1954. Many owners sold at bargain prices afterward, which freed larger parcels for hotels and, as the encyclopedia puts it, actually accelerated development. Golf courses stretched the season into spring and fall in the 1960s, and multistory condominiums and hotels began replacing oceanfront cottages in the 1970s (SC Encyclopedia). The city's 2020 population was 17,280.
Sections of the city
Cherry Grove
The northern end, with marsh channels, a fishing pier and many raised beach houses.
Ocean Drive
The entertainment heart, with shag clubs, restaurants and shops along Main Street.
Crescent Beach and Windy Hill
The southern stretch of oceanfront, with condos, cottages and quieter streets.
Barefoot Resort
Golf and marina living along the Intracoastal Waterway, annexed in 1999.
West of the waterway
Newer neighborhoods and planned developments the city has annexed since the 2000s (comprehensive plan).
Commercial strips
The plan identifies Sea Mountain Highway, Main Street, 17th Avenue South and 37th Avenue South among the city's commercial corridors.
Short-term rentals and city rules
Here, any short-term rental must carry a North Myrtle Beach business license that is renewed annually, and operators collect and remit accommodations taxes to the city, county and state. The city says no special zoning or permit is currently required beyond licensing, but it has studied the issue publicly, including a possible moratorium on new units with eight or more sleeping areas (City of North Myrtle Beach). HOA and condo rules can still prohibit or limit rentals, so I confirm both before you commit. For the numbers, run the numbers with my investor page and rental guide.
Practical checks
Schools
Horry County Schools lists North Myrtle Beach High and North Myrtle Beach Middle in its North Myrtle Beach attendance area. Verify the zone for your street with the district.
Flood and wind
Raised beach houses and oceanfront towers each carry different insurance profiles. Start with the FEMA flood zone lookup.
Older oceanfront buildings
For condos built in the 1970s and 1980s, I review reserves, recent assessments and the building's repair history. See oceanfront condos.
Taxes
Year-round owners apply for the lower owner-occupant assessment (Horry County); second homes are taxed at 6%.
One more tip: North Myrtle Beach covers a lot of ground, from the oceanfront to neighborhoods several miles inland across the waterway. Drive the route to the beach, the grocery store and work at the time of day you would actually make the trip before you choose a section.
Related: North Myrtle Beach posts on my blog.
Keep exploring
Back to the Myrtle Beach real estate guide, or continue with these related pages:
Frequently asked questions
When was North Myrtle Beach formed?
In 1968, by merging four small beach communities into a single city.
Where did the Shag start?
The city's 2018 comprehensive plan says the Shag, South Carolina's official dance, originated in places like the O.D. Pavilion and The Pad in Ocean Drive.
Do I need a license to rent my North Myrtle Beach condo?
Yes. Yes. The city licenses each vacation rental annually, and owners remit accommodations taxes at the city, county and state levels.
Is North Myrtle Beach part of the City of Myrtle Beach?
No. It is a separate city with its own government, rules and services.
Thinking about North Myrtle Beach?
Book a consultation and I will help you pick the right section of the city for how you plan to use the property.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these sources, checked November 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm details for your specific property.
