Smart Lock Installation in Myrtle Beach, SC

Does a smart lock suit the door

A smart deadbolt on a detached house is usually the owner's call alone. In a building of 20 or more units, the unit door may need approval from management or an owners' association, and a lobby or garage that runs on a key or fob issued by management is not yours to change. A renter's first stop is the landlord: the state's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act ties lock changes to the landlord's permission (section 27-40-530(e)).

Guest codes and the short-stay rule

A keypad with changeable codes suits a home where cleaners, guests and managers come and go, since a code can be reset without collecting keys. Before setting codes for short stays, check the zoning. The city's Planning and Zoning Department says most residential neighborhoods are not zoned for short-term rentals, meaning stays of less than 90 days. Of the zones beginning with "R," only RMV (Residential Multifamily Visitor) allows them, and 24 houses in traditional residential zones are grandfathered. Violations are misdemeanors carrying, on conviction, a fine and/or up to 30 days per occurrence. The state accommodations tax draws a similar line at 90 continuous days (S.C. Code § 12-36-920(A)). This is general information, not legal advice.

Sand, salt and a backup key

A keypad on a beach-house door collects the same sand and salt as a keyed lock, so wipe it down and keep grit out of any key override. Batteries run down, and a lock that sat idle for weeks may have run flat, so check them when you open a seasonal home. Choose a model with a physical key override, and keep a spare key somewhere other than inside the home, so a dead battery never becomes a lockout.

What to send with the request

• The door type and the lock you have now
• Whether the home is in a building of 20 or more units, and whether management or the landlord has approved the change
• How many people need codes, and whether any are short-stay guests
• Your neighborhood, such as Grande Dunes or Pine Lakes, or the avenue number

If you only want old keys cancelled, lock rekeying does that without electronics. For the keypad itself, see smart lock installation or the Myrtle Beach page.