Local Infrastructure Projects & Eminent Domain
As Myrtle Beach and Horry County continue to grow, state and local authorities regularly initiate infrastructure projects. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and local municipalities frequently utilize eminent domain to acquire property for road widening, intersection improvements, and new bypass construction.
Major local corridors that see frequent condemnation activity include US-17, US-501, SC-9, and SC-31. While these projects aim to improve public transit, they often require taking land from local homeowners and businesses.
What Is a Partial Taking?
Unlike total condemnations where the government buys an entire property, a **partial taking** occurs when only a portion of the land is acquired. For instance, the SCDOT might take a 20-foot strip of your front yard to widen a road or add a sidewalk. Although you keep the remainder of your property, the partial taking can have significant consequences.
Severance Damages & Easements
Landowners are entitled to compensation not only for the strip of land taken but also for the reduction in value of the remaining property, known as **severance damages**. Common examples of damage to the remainder in Myrtle Beach road widening projects include:
- Loss of frontage and setback distances (bringing traffic closer to homes/businesses)
- Elimination of primary business parking spaces or buffer zones
- Loss of mature landscaping, oak trees, or signage
- Restriction or elimination of driveway access to main roads
- Creation of odd-shaped or non-conforming parcels that limit future development
The government may also seek temporary or permanent **easements** for drainage, slope construction, or utility maintenance, which can permanently restrict how you use your land. Before agreeing to an easement or signing an offer, speak with a Myrtle Beach eminent domain lawyer.
Request a Road Widening Case Review