How Do I Buy or Lease Commercial Property in Myrtle Beach?

Last updated: November 2026

To buy or lease commercial property in Myrtle Beach, start by deciding what your business needs, confirm the zoning allows your use, and understand the lease or loan terms before you sign anything. Get inspections and due diligence done, check permits and business licensing, and have a commercial agent on your side throughout.

This is our starting point for business owners, investors and tenants looking at commercial space on the Grand Strand. Each section below gives you the short version and links to a full guide on that question. Read in order if you're just starting out, or jump to the question on your mind.

In this guide:

• What should you figure out before you look at commercial space?
• How do zoning and permits affect where you can open?
• What do you need to know about commercial leases?
• How do you check a property before you commit?
• How do financing and investing work for commercial property?
• Do you need a commercial agent?
• Where in the Grand Strand should your business be?
• What do business owners ask about commercial property in Myrtle Beach?
• Ready to talk about commercial space on the Grand Strand?

What should you figure out before you look at commercial space?

The right space starts with your business, not the listing. Before you tour anything, write down how many square feet you need now and in a few years, how customers or deliveries reach you, how much parking you need, and what you can afford each month all-in, not just base rent.

Then decide whether leasing or buying fits your plans. Leasing keeps cash free and gives you flexibility. Buying builds equity and gives you control, but ties up capital and makes you responsible for the building. Our guide on whether to lease or buy your business space walks through the trade-offs.

It also helps to know the main property types. Retail, office, flex, industrial and mixed-use spaces all work differently, and each has its own lease conventions. Start with the different types of commercial space if you're not sure which category you're shopping in.

How do zoning and permits affect where you can open?

Zoning decides whether your business is allowed at an address at all. Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway and the other cities each have their own zoning, and unincorporated areas fall under Horry County or Georgetown County. A space that worked for the last tenant may not work for you if your use is different.

In unincorporated Horry County, a zoning compliance is required before the county will issue a business license, and a change in use can bring in Code Enforcement for a change-of-use permit. In the City of Myrtle Beach, the Zoning Administrator reviews every business license application to confirm the business can operate at that location.

Read how zoning works for commercial property in Horry County and what permits you need to open a restaurant or retail shop before you commit to a location.

What do you need to know about commercial leases?

Commercial leases are negotiated contracts, and most of the cost lives in the details. The lease type decides who pays taxes, insurance and maintenance. In a triple net lease, you pay a share of all three on top of base rent. In a gross lease, the landlord folds them into one rent figure.

Before you sign, you'll usually agree on a letter of intent, negotiate the length and renewal options, and work out who pays to build out the space. Our lease guides cover each step:

• What a triple net lease is and how it affects what you pay
• NNN vs gross vs modified gross leases
• What CAM charges are and why they go up
• What a letter of intent (LOI) is
• How long commercial leases run and what you can negotiate
• How tenant improvement (TI) money works
• What happens when a commercial lease ends

Talk to Our Team About Commercial Space

How do you check a property before you commit?

Commercial deals put more of the risk on you than a home purchase does. There's no standard state disclosure form that protects commercial buyers the way residential sellers' disclosures do, so the inspection period and your own research carry the load.

Plan for a building inspection, a look at the roof and HVAC, a review of the title and survey, and, for most purchases, a Phase I environmental site assessment. Tenants should inspect too, because many leases make you responsible for systems once you move in.

These guides cover the checklist: inspections before you lease or buy, due diligence and how long to ask for, Phase I environmental reports, what to look for on a tour, and parking, signage and visibility.

How do financing and investing work for commercial property?

Commercial loans are underwritten differently from home loans. Lenders look closely at the property's income or your business's cash flow, and terms, down payments and amortization tend to differ from a residential mortgage. Owner-occupants often look at SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.

Investors usually start with the cap rate to compare properties, and many use a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains tax when they sell one investment property and buy another. Each has rules you need to know before you list or make an offer.

Start with how commercial financing differs from a home loan, what a cap rate is and how investors use it, and how a 1031 exchange works.

Do you need a commercial agent?

You don't have to use one, but the other side almost always has one. Landlords and sellers of commercial property are usually represented. A tenant or buyer's agent works for you: finding space that fits, checking zoning early, comparing lease terms, and pushing for concessions.

In many commercial leases and sales, the agent's fee is paid by the landlord or seller under a listing agreement, but that isn't automatic, so it should be settled in writing up front. Read why you should use an agent for commercial property and what a commercial buyer's agent does and what it costs.

Talk to Our Team About Commercial Space

Where in the Grand Strand should your business be?

Location in a tourism-driven market cuts both ways. Spots near the beach and major corridors get heavy seasonal traffic, while areas serving year-round residents can be steadier. Think about whether your customers are visitors, locals or other businesses, and where they already drive.

Our city guides give you a feel for each area: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Little River, Longs and Pawleys Island. Then confirm zoning and permitting with the city or county that controls the address you're considering.

What do business owners ask about commercial property in Myrtle Beach?

Is it better to lease or buy commercial property in Myrtle Beach?

It depends on your cash, your timeline and how sure you are of the location. Leasing preserves capital and flexibility. Buying builds equity and control but ties up money and makes you responsible for the building.

Who handles zoning for a business in Myrtle Beach?

It depends on the address. Properties inside city limits fall under that city's zoning, such as the City of Myrtle Beach or Conway. Unincorporated areas fall under Horry County Planning and Zoning or Georgetown County.

Do I need a business license in Horry County?

Yes. Businesses in unincorporated Horry County need a county business license, and cities issue their own. In unincorporated Horry County, a zoning compliance is required before the license is issued.

What is a triple net lease?

A lease where you pay base rent plus your share of the property's taxes, insurance and maintenance. It's common for retail and freestanding commercial buildings.

Does a commercial buyer or tenant pay their agent?

Often the landlord or seller pays the commission under the listing agreement, but it isn't guaranteed. Agree on how your agent is paid in writing before you start.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and requirements change. Talk to a South Carolina attorney, CPA or lender about your situation, and confirm current requirements with the agency involved.

Ready to talk about commercial space on the Grand Strand?

Whether you are leasing your first space, buying a building for your business or adding an investment property, a short call with our team can help you sort out the options and the next steps. No pressure, and no commitment.

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