Beaufort County, SC Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

60 of the Community Development Code splits day care standards by type. Adult day care facilities only need to comply with all relevant state requirements, with no additional county site standards. Child day care facilities must also meet state requirements, but the county layers three additional site-design standards on top for any facility located in a zone that allows it. First, outdoor play areas must be provided and safely segregated from parking, loading, or service areas so children are not exposed to vehicle traffic. Second, a landscaped hedge or solid fence is required along any rear or side property line that adjoins a residential lot, and it must be designed or planted to reach at least four feet in height at maturity, buffering the play area from neighboring homes.

Third, the parking area and vehicular circulation must be designed to ensure the safety of children as they arrive and leave, including a designated pickup and delivery area positioned so children never have to cross a vehicular travel way to enter or exit the center, with traffic congestion minimized. These standards are reviewed by Beaufort County's Community Development Department as part of land development plan review for the site, separate from the operational day care license issued by the state. 60.