Florence County, SC Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Florence County, SC, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Florence County Code § 30-246(2)
- Shed placement
- Rear yard setback only, 3 ft from property line
- Height cap
- 30 feet for accessory buildings
- Floor area, 1 acre or less
- 2,000 sq ft combined accessory floor area
- Floor area, 4+ acres
- 6,000 sq ft combined accessory floor area
- General penalty
- Up to $200 fine or 30 days jail (§ 1-13)
Summary
In unincorporated Florence County, sheds and dry-storage structures may only sit in the rear yard setback, at least three feet from the property line, under Florence County Code § 30-246(2). Accessory building height cannot exceed 30 feet, and combined accessory floor area is capped by lot size, from 2,000 square feet on lots of one acre or less up to 6,000 square feet on lots of four acres or more.
3.The height of accessory buildings shall not exceed 30 feet. ... c.Buildings, sheds, and structures for dry storage; greenhouses. Building sheds and structures for dry storage and greenhouses may be located in rear yard setback areas only, but no closer than three feet to the property line. ... Lot Size (Gross Acres) Accessory Structures/Uses (Gross Floor Area) 1 acre or less 2,000 sf† >1—<2 acres 3,000 sf* 2—<4 acres 4,000 sf* 4 or more acres 6,000 sf*
Full Breakdown
Section 30-246 of the Florence County Zoning Ordinance sets the placement and size rules for sheds and other accessory structures in residential districts of the unincorporated county. Under subsection (2)(c), buildings, sheds and structures used for dry storage, along with greenhouses, may be located only in the rear yard setback area, and must sit no closer than three feet to the property line; they cannot be placed in a side or front setback. Subsection (2)(a) sets the numeric limits that apply alongside that placement rule: accessory building height is capped at 30 feet, no mobile home or standard manufactured home may serve as an accessory structure, and the number and combined gross floor area of accessory structures on a lot follow Table II and Table I.
Table I ties the maximum combined accessory floor area to lot size: 2,000 square feet on a lot of one acre or less, provided no single structure or combination exceeds the square footage of the existing primary structure, 3,000 square feet on lots larger than one but under two acres, 4,000 square feet on lots of two up to four acres, and 6,000 square feet on lots of four acres or more. Table II separately caps the number of accessory structures per parcel at two below one acre, three on one-to-four-acre lots, and four, or unlimited with bufferyard E screening, on lots of four acres or more.
Accessory structures may sit as close as three feet to a side or rear line unless larger than 2,000 square feet, which triggers the bufferyard E landscape screening requirement in Section 30-121. The Florence County Planning Department reviews accessory structure placement as part of building permit and zoning compliance review.
Violations & Fines
Placing a shed or dry-storage structure outside the rear yard setback, closer than three feet to the property line, or exceeding the height or combined floor-area limits in Table I, violates Florence County Code § 30-246. The Code's general penalty, Section 1-13, applies: a fine up to $200.00, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I put a storage shed on my property in Florence County?
How big can my shed be?
Is there a height limit on backyard sheds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Florence County
How Florence County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Florence County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview
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