Can you sleep on the beach in Horry County? Here is what you need to know.

There’s no place in Horry County, campsite or not, where you can crash on the sand after sundown.

Horry County has a county wide ordinance against sleeping from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Cities in Horry County, specifically Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, have their own ordinances.

In North Myrtle Beach, you cannot sleep on the beach from 9:00 p.m. to sunrise. And in Myrtle Beach, you cannot sleep on the public beach from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

So what happens if you get caught? Horry County Public Information Officer Mikayla Moscov said their first priority is to educate the public.

“Our first course of action is always to educate and counsel community members on the ordinances and laws, and most of the time that is enough,” Moscov said.

If someone is found sleeping on the beach during hours where it’s not allowed, the person would first be asked to leave. If the person refuses, a ticket would be issued for up to $500. The highest level incident would involve an arrest if needed.

The good news is that the state parks and a few private campgrounds offer sites very close to the beach where you can set up a tent or rent a cabin for an affordable price. Here’s a list of places that have “ocean view” campsites.

• Huntington Beach State Park
• Lakewood camping resort
• Ocean Lakes Family Campground
• Myrtle Beach Travel Park