Cherokee County, SC Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Tiny homes are addressed in Chapter 13 of the Cherokee County Code, the Cherokee County Uniform Land Development Regulations Ordinance (§ 13-23), which applies to all land development projects within the unincorporated areas of the county (§ 13-2). The chapter treats a tiny home as a residence and a single family unit, not as an accessory building.

The definition is in § 13-221. Tiny Homes are single family units that have a maximum size of four hundred (400) square feet. They must be on a permanent foundation and not attached to a frame/chassis. A unit built on wheels or a chassis therefore falls outside the definition. The definition also says a tiny home shall meet the requirements and lot size as outlined in the ordinance.

Density is capped by § 13-57. The maximum density per parcel shall not exceed two (2) residential structures, and the section says this includes single family residences, duplexes, manufactured homes, tiny homes and all others. A parcel with one house and one tiny home has reached the two-structure limit.

Lot rules sit in Article III, which applies to any subdivision created or re-subdivided after the chapter was enacted (§ 13-51). Section 13-52 sets one-half (½) acre as the minimum size for any lot created after adoption unless the chapter specifies otherwise, and lot area and width at the building line must meet South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control or public utility provider requirements. Section 13-53 requires all lots to have a minimum of one-hundred (100) feet of frontage on a public road right-of-way or a roadway meeting the county's roadway specifications.