Horry County Council unanimously gave key approval earlier this month banning digging holes deeper than 2 feet deep along unincorporated Grand Strand beaches. It faces one final vote later this month.
Supporters say deep holes are dangerous to people walking on the beach who may not see them and fall down and also are a hazard to sea turtles.
The ban will include all unincorporated areas along the Grand Strand, such as Garden City Beach, the Lake Arrowhead area between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, and the area just south of Springmaid Beach that runs into the Myrtle Beach State Park.
A number of other South Carolina beach governments have passed similar bans on digging holes including Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island Kiawah Island and Surfside Beach.