Anderson County, SC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential cap
- 55% impervious
- Commercial/industrial cap
- 80% impervious
- Institutional cap
- 65% impervious
- Banned practice
- lot-line-to-lot-line blacktopping
- Enforcement
- misdemeanor, § 24-28
Summary
Anderson County caps how much of a lot can be covered by buildings, pavement, and other impervious surfaces: 55 percent for residential, 80 percent for commercial and industrial uses, and 65 percent for institutional uses, to control stormwater runoff.
Impervious surfaces are those that do not absorb water. All buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, and any areas in concrete and asphalt are considered impervious surfaces within this definition. ... Lot line to lot line blacktopping is declared by this section to be an unacceptable practice. (c) Standards. The following uses shall be limited in the amount of on-site impervious surface areas to be prescribed ratios: Residential 55%, Commercial/business 80%, Industrial/warehousing/storage 80%, Institutional 65%.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 24-116(a) defines impervious surfaces as those that do not absorb water, including all buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, and any concrete or asphalt areas, with the impervious surface ratio calculated by dividing the total impervious area by the base site area. Subsection (b) states the purpose is to reduce stormwater runoff impacts by requiring on-site permeable areas, and it specifically declares lot-line-to-lot-line blacktopping an unacceptable practice. Subsection (c) sets the maximum ratios by use: residential development is capped at 55 percent impervious coverage, commercial and business uses at 80 percent, industrial, warehousing, and storage uses at 80 percent, and institutional uses at 65 percent. This standard sits in Chapter 24's Article III dimensional standards alongside the county's setback table in section 24-117, which sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks by road classification, and the building height standards of section 24-118.
Violations & Fines
Constructing or using land in violation of the impervious surface standards is a misdemeanor under section 24-28, and the county or an affected property owner may also seek an injunction or other court action to stop the unlawful construction or use; each continuing day after notice of violation is a separate offense punishable under section 1-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my residential lot can I pave or build on in Anderson County?
What is the impervious surface cap for a commercial property?
What happens if a property exceeds the impervious surface limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anderson County
Compare Anderson County to another location·View the South Carolina building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.