Land Development and Zoning Ordinances
The following ordinances are available for download in Adobe PDF format. Click on an underlined link to open the document in a new window. Download the free Adobe Reader here.
Land Development Regulations
| Table of Contents | TOC | |
| I | Applicability | 1-1 |
| 1. Short Title | 1-1 | |
| 2. Authority and Enactment Clause | 1-1 | |
| 3. Jurisdiction | 1-1 | |
| 4. Purpose | 1-1 | |
| 5. Suitability of the Land | 1-2 | |
| 6. Amendments | 1-2 | |
| 7. Violations and Penalties | 1-2 | |
| 8. Appeals to Development Regulations | 1-3 | |
| 9. Separability and Validity | 1-3 | |
| 10. Interpretation and Conflict | 1-3 | |
| 11. Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances | 1-3 | |
| 12. Effective Date | 1-3 | |
| 13. Application of Ordinance | 1-3 | |
| 14. Types of Developments | 1-4 | |
| 14-1. Major Subdivision | 1-4 | |
| 14-2. Minor Subdivisions | 1-4 | |
| 14-3. Platting Actions | 1-4 | |
| 15. Development Approval Required | 1-4 | |
| 16. Applications of Procedures to Subdivide | 1-4 | |
| 17. Plats Exempted from Standard Procedures | 1-5 | |
| II | Procedures | 2-1 |
| 1. General | 2-1 | |
| 2. Review Procedures for Major Developments | 2-1 | |
| 2-1. Consultation and Sketch Plan | 2-1 | |
| 2-2. Development Plat and Application for Approval | 2-2 | |
| 2-3. Final Plat and Application for Approval | 2-3 | |
| Review Procedure for Minor Developments | 2-5 | |
| 3-1. General | 2-5 | |
| 3-2. Submissions | 2-5 | |
| 3-3. Review Procedure | 2-5 | |
| 3-4. Letters of Certification | 2-5 | |
| 3-5. Minor Developments Lacking Adequate Public or Private Improvements | 2-6 | |
| 3-6. Recording the Minor Development Plat | 2-6 | |
| 3-7. Revisions to Minor Developments | 2-6 | |
| 3-8. Additions to a Minor Development | 2-7 | |
| 3-9. Minor Developments on Adjacent Parcels | 2-7 | |
| 3-10. Streets Within Minor Developments | 2-7 | |
| Platting Actions | 2-8 | |
| 4-1. General | 2-8 | |
| 4-2. Parcel Splits | 2-9 | |
| 4-3. Boundary Surveys | 2-9 | |
| 4-4. Estate Plats and Family Transfers | 2-9 | |
| 4-5. Court Orders | 2-10 | |
| 4-6. Combinations of Lots | 2-10 | |
| 4-7. Lot Reconfigurations | 2-10 | |
| 4-8. Mortgage Plats, Lease Parcels, Land Contract Sales Parcels | 2-11 | |
| 4-9. Easements | 2-11 | |
| 4-10. As-Built or Record Plans | 2-11 | |
| 4-11. Conceptual Phasing Plats for Group Developments | 2-11 | |
| 4-12. Closing Plats for Group Developments | 2-12 | |
| 4-13. Cemetery Lots | 2-12 | |
| Street Naming Review Procedure | 2-13 | |
| 5-1. Purpose | 2-13 | |
| 5-2. Applicability | 2-13 | |
| 5-3. Uniform Naming System | 2-13 | |
| 5-4. Street Naming Procedure | 2-14 | |
| 5-5. Street Signs | 2-16 | |
| III | Submissions Requirements | 3-1 |
| 1. Sketch Plan | 3-1 | |
| 2. Development Plan | 3-1 | |
| 3. Final Plans/Plat | 3-1 | |
| 4. Platting Action | 3-1 | |
| 5. Certifications | 3-1 | |
| 6. Letters of Agency | 3-1 | |
| 7. Regulatory Permits and Authorizations | 3-2 | |
| 7-1. General | 3-2 | |
| 7-2. Development Plan | 3-2 | |
| 7-3. Additional Regulatory Permits and Authorizations | 3-2 | |
| IV | Design Standards | 4-1 |
| 1. General | 4-1 | |
| 2. Streets | 4-1 | |
| 2-1. Public and /or Private Road Rights-of-Way | 4-1 | |
| 2-2. Relation to Adjoining Street System | 4-1 | |
| 2-3. Retrofitting Existing Public or Private Road Rights-of-Way | 4-1 | |
| 2-4. Street Hierarchy | 4-2 | |
| 2-5. Trip Generation | 4-2 | |
| 2-6. Roadway Design Criteria | 4-2 | |
| 2-7. Sidewalks and/or Bike Lanes | 4-6 | |
| 3. Lot Layout | 4-6 | |
| 3-1. Blocks | 4-6 | |
| 3-2. Lots | 4-6 | |
| 4. Public Use and Service Areas | 4-7 | |
| 4-1. Public Open Spaces | 4-7 | |
| 4-2. Easements for Utilities | 4-7 | |
| 4-3. Water Supply and Sewerage Connections | 4-8 | |
| 4-4. Community Assets | 4-8 | |
| 4-5. Fire Protection | 4-8 | |
| 5. Flood Prone Areas | 4-8 | |
| 6. Large Tracts or Parcels | 4-8 | |
| 7. Group Housing Developments | 4-8 | |
| 7-1. Mobile Home Parks | 4-9 | |
| 7-2. Planned Development Districts | 4-9 | |
| V | Improvement Standards | 5-1 |
| 1. General Provisions | 5-1 | |
| 1-1. Conformance | 5-1 | |
| 1-2. Commencement | 5-1 | |
| 1-3. Access | 5-1 | |
| 1-4. Inspection | 5-1 | |
| 1-5. Final Plat Approval | 5-1 | |
| 1-6. Changes in the approved Plans and Specifications | 5-1 | |
| 2. Required Improvements | 5-2 | |
| 2-1. Monuments | 5-2 | |
| 2-2. Storm Water Management | 5-2 | |
| 2-3. Roadway Improvements | 5-3 | |
| 2-4. Utilities and Services | 5-4 | |
| 3. Financial Guarantees | 5-5 | |
| 3-1. General | 5-5 | |
| 3-2. Submittal | 5-5 | |
| 3-3. Acceptance of Financial Guarantees | 5-6 | |
| 3-4. Extensions | 5-7 | |
| 3-5. Reductions | 5-7 | |
| 3-6. Release of a Financial Guarantee | 5-7 | |
| 4. Vested Rights | 5-8 | |
| 4-1. Vested Development Rights | 5-8 | |
| VI | Definitions | 6-1 |
| 1. Interpretation of Certain Terms or Words | 6-1 | |
| 2. Meanings | 6-1 | |
| Appendix A1 - Summary of Maximum Standards for Streets Based on Design Criteria | A-1 | |
| Appendix A2 - Summary of Maximum Grades for Vertical Roadway Alignment Design | A-2 | |
| Appendix A3 - Street Hierarchy Definition | A-3 | |
| Appendix A4 - Trip Generation Rates by Major Land Use Categories | A-4 | |
| Appendix A5 - Requirements for Dead-End Fire Apparatuas Access Roads | A-5 | |
| Appendix A6 - Submission Requirements | A-6 | |
| Appendix B1 - Irrevocable Letter of Credit for Performance | B-1 | |
| Appendix B2 - Letter of Agency | B-2 | |
| Appendix B3 - Platting Certificate I | B-3 | |
| Appendix B4 - Platting Certificate II | B-4 |
Zoning Ordinances
| Table of Contents | TOC-1 | |
| I. | Authority and Enactment Clause | 1-1 |
| II. | Short Title | 1-1 |
| III. | Definitions | 3-1 |
| IV. | General Provisions | 4-1 |
| 400 Nonconforming Building or Uses | 4-1 | |
| 401 Nonconforming Building or Use Discontinuance | 4-1 | |
| 402 Mobile Homes | 4-2 | |
| 403 Churches, Synagogues, Temples and Other Places of Worship | 4-3 | |
| 404 Vision Clearance | 4-3 | |
| 405 Ingress and Egress | 4-3 | |
| 406 Flood Protection | 4-3 | |
| 407 Parking and Storage of Certain Vehicles | 4-4 | |
| 408 Water and Air Pollution | 4-4 | |
| 409 Front Yard Setback on the Divided Portion of U.S. Highway 17 | 4-4 | |
| 410 Street Frontage | 4-4 | |
| 411 Accessory Structures | 4-4 | |
| 412 Corner Lot | 4-5 | |
| 413 Elevation of Buildings | 4-5 | |
| 414 Customary, Incidental Home Occupation | 4-5 | |
| 415 Cabanas, Docks, Dune Crossovers and Boardwalks | 4-5 | |
| 416 Body Piercing | 4-5 | |
| 417 Incidental Vehicle Sales | 4-5 | |
| 418 Traffic Impact Analysis | 4-6 | |
| 419 One Principal Structure on a Lot | 4-6 | |
| 420 Swimming Pools | 4-6 | |
| 421 Air-Supported Membrane Structures | 4-6 | |
| 422 Outdoor Products Display | 4-6 | |
| 423 Filming Activities | 4-7 | |
| 424 Farm Animals, Poultry, Fowl and Livestock on a Residential Lot | 4-7 | |
| 425 Commercial Helicopter Operations | 4-8 | |
| V. | Establishment of Zoning Districts and Rules for the Interpretation of District Boundaries | 5-1 |
| 500 Establishment of Districts | 5-1 | |
| 501 District Boundaries | 5-1 | |
| 502 Rules for Interpretation of District Boundaries | 5-2 | |
| 503 Use of Land or Structures | 5-3 | |
| VI. | Requirements by District | 6-1 |
| 600 Conservation Preservation District (CP) | 6-1 | |
| 601 Forest Agriculture District (FA) | 6-2 | |
| 602 One Acre Residential District (R-1Ac) | 6-8 | |
| 603 One Half Acre Residential District (R-1/2 Ac) | 6-10 | |
| 604 10,000 Square Feet Residential District (R-10) | 6-12 | |
| 605 10,000 Square Feet Residential District (MR-10) | 6-14 | |
| 606 Resort Residential District (RR) | 6-15 | |
| 607 General Residential District (GR) | 6-17 | |
| 608 General Resort Residential District (GRR) | 6-25 | |
| 609 Resort Commercial District (RC) | 6-27 | |
| 610 Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 6-32 | |
| 611 General Commercial District (GC) | 6-36 | |
| 612 Resort Service District (RS) | 6-47 | |
| 613 Limited Industrial District (LI) | 6-51 | |
| 614 Heavy Industrial District (HI) | 6-57 | |
| 615 Mobile Home Park District (MHP) | 6-60 | |
| 616 Destination Park District (DPD) | 6-64 | |
| 617 Medical District (MD) | 6-67 | |
| 618 Office Commercial District (OC) | 6-69 | |
| 619 Planned Development District (PD) | 6-71 | |
| 620 Moved to Article XVII; Section 1701 - July 27, 1999 | ||
| 621 Rural General Residential District (RG) | 6-77 | |
| 622 Village 10,000 Square Feet Residential District (VR-10) | 6-79 | |
| 623 Rural Village Commercial District (RVC) | 6-81 | |
| 624 Five Acre Residential District (R-5Ac) | 6-85 | |
| 625 Forest Agriculture/Residential District (FA/R) | 6-87 | |
| 626 Preservation Agriculture District (PA) | 6-91 | |
| 627 Three-Quarter Acre Residential District (R-3/4 Ac) | 6-92 | |
| 628 Forest Agriculture/Commercial District (FA/C) | 6-94 | |
| 629 8,000 Square Feet Residential District (R-8) | 6-99 | |
| 630 6,000 Square Feet Residential District (R-6) | 6-101 | |
| 631 Flexible Design District (FDD) | 6-103 | |
| 632 Solar Energy Facility Floating District | 6-110 | |
| VII. | Area, Yard and Height Requirements | 7-1 |
| VIII. | Exceptions and Modifications | 8-1 |
| 800 Lot Reduction Prohibited | 8-1 | |
| 801 Use of Substandard Lots of Record | 8-1 | |
| 802 Adjoining Substandard Lots of Record | 8-1 | |
| 803 Front Yards | 8-1 | |
| 804 Exception to Height Limits | 8-1 | |
| 805 Group Housing Projects | 8-2 | |
| 806 Exception to Height in Velocity Flood Zones | 8-2 | |
| 807 Exception to Minimum Lot Sizes for Certain Uses | 8-2 | |
| 808 Setback Exceptions for Certain Structures | 8-3 | |
| 809 Setback from Wetlands | 8-4 | |
| 810 Business ID Signs | 8-4 | |
| 811 Heirs Property | 8-4 | |
| 812 Conditional and Temporary Uses | 8-4 | |
| 813 Bus Shelters | 8-9 | |
| 814 Parcels Equal to Less Than One Acre Existing Prior to Countywide Zoning in 2008 | 8-12 | |
| IX. | Beach Standards | 9-1 |
| 900 Specific Project Standards for Beaches and Dunes | 9-1 | |
| X. | Sign Regulations | 10-1 |
| 1000 Purpose and Intent | 10-1 | |
| 1001 General Sign Provisions | 10-1 | |
| 1002 On-Premises Signs | 10-4 | |
| 1003 Temporary (Special Event) Sign Restrictions | 10-5 | |
| 1004 Sign Classifications | 10-6 | |
| 1005 Off-Premises Signs | 10-8 | |
| 1006 Fees and Bonds | 10-9 | |
| 1007 Impoundment of Signs | 10-10 | |
| 1008 Scenic Areas and Highways | 10-10 | |
| 1009 Protection of First Amendment Rights | 10-10 | |
| XI. | Off-Street Parking | 11-1 |
| 1100 Intent | 11-1 | |
| 1101 General Requirements | 11-1 | |
| 1102 Parking Space Requirements | 11-1 | |
| 1103 Design Standards | 11-6 | |
| 1104 Special Provisions | 11-10 | |
| 1105 Completion of Parking and Loading Required Prior to Issuance of Occupancy | 11-11 | |
| 1106 Use of Off-Site Parking | 11-12 | |
| XII. | Buffer Requirements | 12-1 |
| 1200 Intent | 12-1 | |
| 1201 Buffer Areas | 12-1 | |
| 1202 Screening | 12-1 | |
| 1203 Buffering Within Parking Areas | 12-8 | |
| 1204 Lighting | 12-10 | |
| 1205 Buffer Plan Requirements | 12-11 | |
| XIII. | Tree Regulations | 13-1 |
| 1300 Intent | 13-1 | |
| 1301 General Tree Regulations, County Wide | 13-1 | |
| 1302 Rural Area Tree Overlay Regulations | 13-8 | |
| 1303 Urban Area (Waccamaw Neck) Tree Overlay Regulations | 13-9 | |
| 1304 Exceptions To Article XIII | 13-10 | |
| 1305 Enforcement And Remedies | 13-12 | |
| XIV. | Permit Regulations | 14-1 |
| 1400 Building, Sign, and Tree Permits Required | 14-1 | |
| 1401 Application for Building Permit | 14-1 | |
| 1402 Certificate of Occupancy For New and Altered Structures | 14-2 | |
| 1403 Change of Tenant | 14-2 | |
| 1404 Electrical Power Only Permit Required | 14-2 | |
| 1405 Expiration of Building Permit | 14-2 | |
| XV. | Administration, Enforcement, Complaints and Remedies | 15-1 |
| 1500 Administration and Enforcement | 15-1 | |
| 1501 Right of Entry for Purpose of Inspection | 15-1 | |
| 1502 Zoning Ordinance Violations | 15-1 | |
| 1503 Complaints Regarding Violations and Remedies | 15-2 | |
| 1504 Remedies | 15-2 | |
| 1505 Penalties for Violation | 15-3 | |
| 1506 Appeal to an Interpretation or Decision of the Zoning Administrator | 15-4 | |
| 1507 Impoundment of Signs | 15-4 | |
| XVI. | Zoning Board of Appeals | 16-1 |
| 1600 Establishment of Zoning Board of Appeals | 16-1 | |
| 1601 Proceeding of the Zoning Board of Appeals | 16-1 | |
| 1602 Decisions of the Zoning Board of Appeals | 16-1 | |
| 1603 Appeals, Hearings, and Notice | 16-1 | |
| 1604 Powers and Duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals | 16-2 | |
| 1605 Appeals from Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals | 16-3 | |
| 1606 Contempt; Penalty | 16-3 | |
| XVII. | Amendments | 17-1 |
| 1700 Authority | 17-1 | |
| 1701 Requirements for Change | 17-1 | |
| 1702 Procedure for Amendments | 17-1 | |
| 1703 Reversion | 17-5 | |
| XVIII. | Legal Status Provisions | 18-1 |
| 1800 Conflict with Other Ordinances | 18-1 | |
| 1801 Validity | 18-1 | |
| 1802 Effective Date | 18-1 | |
| 1803 Repealer and Savings Clause | 18-1 | |
| XIX. | Establishment of Overlay Zones | 19-1 |
| 1900 Establishment of Overlay Zones | 19-1 | |
| 1901 Zone Boundaries | 19-1 | |
| XX. | Requirements by Overlay Zone | 20-1 |
| 2000 Commercial Corridor Overlay Zone (CCO) | 20-1 | |
| 2001 Airport Safety Overlay Zone (ASO) | 20-8 | |
| 2002 Rural Area Tree Overlay Zone | 20-16 | |
| 2003 Urban Area Tree Overlay Zone | 20-16 | |
| 2004 Solar Energy Facility Floating District | 20-16 | |
| 2005 Exceptions | 20-20 | |
| XXI. | Designated Overlay Zones | 21-1 |
| 2100 Waccamaw Neck Commercial Corridor Overlay Zone | 21-1 | |
| 2101 Plantersville Scenic Roadway Overlay Zone (Removed) | 21-8 | |
| 2102 Highway 701 Corridor Overlay Zone | 21-8 | |
| 2103 Marsh Walk Overlay Zone | ||
| XXII. | Board of Architectural Review | 22-1 |
| 2200 Deleted Ordinance | 22-1 | |
| XXIII. | 23-1 | |
| 2300 Intent | 23-1 | |
| 2301 Definitions | 23-1 | |
| 2302 Permits | 23-1 | |
| 2303 Accessory Use | 23-1 | |
| 2304 Principal Use | 23-1 | |
| 2305 Wind Energy Systems | 23-1 | |
| 2306 Utility Scale Wind Energy Systems | 23-3 | |
| APPENDICES | ||
| A. | Tree Regulations Appendix | A-1 |
| Tree Well Illustration | A-1 | |
| Table 1. Caliper to height Ratios for Deciduous Trees | A-2 | |
| Table 2. Height to Spread Ratios for Coniferous Nursery Trees | A-2 | |
| Figure 1. Typical Critical Root Zone | A-3 | |
| Figure 2. Active Protective Tree Fencing Detail | A-4 | |
| Figure 3. Alternative Protective Tree Fencing Detail | A-4 | |
| Figure 4. Root Loss from Trenching vs Tunneling | A-5 | |
| Figure 5. Tunneling for Underground Utilities | A-5 | |
| B. | Sign Regulations Appendix | B-1 |
| Ilus. 1. Sight Triangles Standard Detail | B-1 | |
| Table 1 Sign Criteria | B-2 | |
| Table 2 Size, Area, Height | B-3 | |
| Table 3 Sign Types | B-4 | |
| Table 4 Type By Use | B-5 | |
| C. | Color Chart | C-1 |