Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Orangeburg County

Orangeburg County, SC Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

ADU rules in Orangeburg County, SC, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.

Key Facts

Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 3.22
ADUs per lot: One accessory dwelling unit maximum
Height cap: Two stories or height of principal structure
Floor area cap: Cannot exceed principal structure's gross floor area
Parking: At least one space per ADU
Adopted: Ord. No. 2019-10-07-21, effective October 7, 2019

ADU Eligibility Quick-Check

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent living unit on the same lot as a single-family home: converted garages, detached cottages, basement or attic conversions, and attached additions all qualify. Most states have streamlined ADU permitting since 2020, but local rules still control size, height, and setback.

Is your lot zoned single-family or multi-family residential?
Does your lot have at least 1,200 sq ft of buildable space?
Is your existing home owner-occupied (in most states this is not required, but some require it for ADU permits)?
Will the ADU stay under your state's size cap (commonly 850-1,200 sq ft for detached)?
Can you provide one off-street parking space (waived in many states within 0.5 mi of transit)?

If you answered 'yes' to most of these, you likely qualify in South Carolina under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Orangeburg County, SC rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

In unincorporated Orangeburg County, accessory dwelling units are a conditional use under Zoning Ordinance Section 3.22, allowed only where Table 1 permits them for the district. Owners can add just one ADU per lot, capped at two stories or the height of the principal house, with floor area that cannot exceed the main dwelling and at least one parking space required per unit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Orangeburg County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

This section applies to any buiiding or portion of a building, including the principal building, used as a dwelling unit and which is additional to the use of a principal building. ... a)Not more than one (1) accessory dwelling unit may be established on a lot, where permitted by Table 1. ... c)One (1) detached accessory dwelling unit in addition to other permitted detached accessory structures may be permitted on the same lot. Accessory dwelling units may be created as a second story within another permitted detached accessory structure provided that, the height does not exceed the height of the principal structure.d)An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed two (2) stories or the height of the principal structure.e)Accessory dwelling units shall not exceed the gross floor area of the principal structure.f)At least one (1) parking space shall be provided per accessory dwelling unit.

View official code

Full Breakdown

22 of the Orangeburg County Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A) governs accessory dwelling units in the unincorporated areas of the county, applying to any building or portion of a building used as a dwelling unit that is additional to a principal building. ADUs are conditionally permitted only where Table 1 allows them in the applicable zoning district, and the Zoning Administrator reviews each application against the section's structural limits. A lot may hold no more than one ADU. A detached ADU can be built in addition to other permitted detached accessory structures, and an ADU can also be carved out as a second story within an existing accessory structure, provided that structure does not exceed the height of the principal dwelling.

Freestanding or attached, an ADU is capped at two stories or the height of the principal structure, and its gross floor area cannot exceed that of the principal structure. At least one off-street parking space must be provided for each ADU created, on top of the parking required for the principal dwelling. These caps keep an ADU secondary to the main house rather than a second full residence competing with it for bulk on the lot. The section was added by Ord. No. 2019-10-07-21, adopted October 7, 2019, and works alongside the separate owner-occupancy and no-rental restrictions in the same section.

Violations & Fines

Building without the required Table 1 use approval, exceeding the one-ADU-per-lot cap, or adding an ADU taller or larger than the principal structure violates Zoning Ordinance Section 3.22. The Zoning Administrator can deny the building permit application, order the excess structure altered or removed, and treat continued noncompliance as a zoning violation subject to Appendix A's general enforcement remedies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build an accessory dwelling unit in unincorporated Orangeburg County?

Only if Table 1 conditionally permits ADUs in your zoning district and you meet Zoning Ordinance Section 3.22's limits: one ADU per lot, a height cap of two stories or the principal structure's height, floor area no larger than the main house, and at least one parking space. The Zoning Administrator reviews the application before a building permit issues.

How tall can an ADU be in Orangeburg County?

Section 3.22(d) caps an accessory dwelling unit at two stories or the height of the principal structure. A detached ADU built as a second story within another accessory structure is also limited to the principal dwelling's height under Section 3.22(c).

How many ADUs can I put on one lot?

Just one. Section 3.22(a) allows not more than one accessory dwelling unit per lot, and only where the zoning district's Table 1 conditionally permits the use in the first place.

Sources & Official References

[1]Orangeburg County Code of Ordinances (Municode) - Zoning Ordinance § 3.22

Other rules in Orangeburg County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursLight Restrictions Shed & Carport RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions ADU Rental RestrictionsHeavy Restrictions ADU Owner OccupancySome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions

All Orangeburg County rules

How Orangeburg County compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Orangeburg County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.