Artificial turf in Carolina Forest, SC, for the part of the yard you use.

Keep the paths, beds and gathering places that work.

You do not need to cover the whole yard to change how it feels. A small pet area near the back door may be more useful than a larger lawn; a putting green may fit beside a patio with planting left around it. Choose the purpose first, then compare the layout and turf options.

Show us the route into the work area and any irrigation that crosses it. Access, removal, preparation and the edges between turf and existing landscaping all belong in the written scope.

Leave room for drainage and shared access.

If the area sits beside a pond, ditch or drain, bring the property plan if you have it. Mark drainage features and any shared access before choosing the turf boundary.

For a property with an association, check its requirements for the proposed change. Ask Horry County about any grading or drainage work that accompanies the installation. Having those answers early helps avoid redesigning a layout around an overlooked restriction.

Keep the parts of the yard you already use.

Start with the route from the house, the seating area and the space you want for pets or putting. The turf can be one part of the yard, with planting beds and paths kept in the layout. For a green, think about the putts you want to practice and whether you want a fringe for chipping.

If the proposed area is near a pond, ditch or drain, bring the property plan if you have it. Horry County’s homeowner guidance explains why planned drainage routes and access to drainage systems need to be kept clear. Mark those features before choosing the turf boundary.

Check the county requirements and your community documents.

Ask Horry County Stormwater about the complete proposal, including excavation, grading and drainage changes. The size of the finished lawn alone does not settle the requirements for the work.

If an association governs your property, request its current requirements for the proposed change. Identify any shared area or easement before finalizing the layout. Bring the written response to the estimate so those conditions can be considered alongside the installation options.

Check your own neighborhood's rules within Carolina Forest.

Carolina Forest is made up of dozens of named neighborhoods, each assigned a council district by the Carolina Forest Civic Association: Ashley Park, Avalon, Bella Vita, Berkshire Forest, Brighton Lakes, Brightwater, Canterbury, Carolina Waterways Plantation, Carolina Willows, Clear Pond, Covington Lake, Covington Lake East, Fairways at River Oaks, Grand Villas at World Tour, Indigo Bay, Inverness, Myrtle Beach National, Plantation Lakes, River Landing, River Oaks Golf Plantation, Sawgrass East, Seaside Grove, Southgate, Springlake, Summerlyn, The Bluffs, The Cloisters, The Farm, The Parks, Turnberry Park, Turning Pines, Waccamaw Pines, Walkers Woods and Waterway Palms Plantation. Every one of them sits in unincorporated Horry County like the rest of Carolina Forest, so the county stormwater and drainage guidance already on this page reaches your yard no matter which of these you're in. If your neighborhood has its own homeowners association, get its current architectural guidelines and confirm what it allows before you plan a layout.

Waterbridge is the exception with a rule in writing. The Waterbridge HOA's Architectural Design Guidelines and Builder Rules, January 1, 2024 Edition, state under Landscaping that artificial vegetation, including artificial turf, is not permitted. That document is written for new construction, so it does not say whether the same restriction reaches existing homes or later phases; ask the Waterbridge ARC what applies to your lot before planning artificial turf there.