Orangeburg County, SC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

4 of the Zoning Ordinance sets three front-setback tiers that apply identically across all eight zoning districts, RS, RG, RO, CN, CG, BI, FA and RC: 50 feet from a multi-lane major street, 30 feet from a two-lane major street, and 20 feet from a minor street, all measured from the property line. Side and rear setbacks differ by district and by whether the adjoining use is residential or nonresidential. The residential side setback is 5 feet in RS, CN, CG and RC, and 15 feet in the FA forest-agricultural district; footnote (C) sets the RG and RO side setback at 5 feet for a single-family dwelling, duplex or one side of a patio home, 10 feet for a townhouse end unit, and 20 feet for all other housing types.

The BI industrial district carries no residential side setback ('NA'). Residential rear setbacks run from 10 feet (CN, CG) up to 50 feet (FA), with nonresidential rear setbacks set separately from 10 to 75 feet depending on the district. Every district also carries a riparian buffer under footnote (G): a setback of not less than 40 feet, or one-third the depth of the lot if that is less, along the banks of any lake, stream or river, kept undeveloped except for piers, docks and pervious access paths, with any disturbance required to follow the South Carolina Forestry Commission's Best Management Practices for streamside management zones.