Florence County, SC Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard residential cap
- 38 feet (R-1 through R-4, RU-1, RU-1A, RU-2)
- R-5/R-5A multi-family cap
- 4 stories, not a foot limit
- Commercial districts
- No fixed max height (B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6)
- Setback trade-off over 35 ft
- +1 ft side/rear setback per 2 ft of height
- Height review over 35 ft
- Fire department must approve ladder access
- General violation penalty
- Up to $200 fine or 30 days jail (Sec. 1-13)
Summary
Unincorporated Florence County caps building height at 38 feet in its standard single-family districts, R-1 through R-4, and RU-1, RU-1A and RU-2, under Table III. The R-5 and R-5A multi-family districts allow up to four stories, and commercial buildings over 35 feet need fire department sign-off on ladder access.
Sec. 30-30. - Table III: Zoning setbacks. District ... Max Hgt.
(ft) (c) ... R-1 15,000 30,000 100 25 10 50 30 60 38 40 0.25 ... R-5 6,000 12,000 50 25 5 25 20 40 4 stories 70 0.30 ... R-5A 6,000 12,000 50 25 5 25 20 40 4 stories 70 0.30 ... (e) There is no maximum: provided side and rear setbacks shall increase by one foot for each two feet in height over 35 feet for buildings outside of the B-4 district; further provided that approval of buildings over 35 feet shall be based on fire ladder capabilities as determined by the fire department with jurisdiction.
Full Breakdown
Florence County's Table III, Sec. ' The standard single-family districts, R-1 through R-4, along with the rural RU-1, RU-1A and RU-2 districts, all cap height at 38 feet. The R-5 and R-5A multi-family districts break from that number entirely: instead of a foot limit, Table III caps them at four stories. Commercial and industrial districts, B-3, B-4, B-5 and B-6, carry no fixed maximum height at all, marked '(e)' in the table, but Note (e) attaches two conditions: side and rear setbacks must increase by one foot for every two feet of height over 35 feet for any building outside the B-4 district, and any building proposed over 35 feet needs its fire ladder capabilities approved by the fire department with jurisdiction before it can be built.
In effect, a commercial building in B-3, B-5 or B-6 that wants to go taller than 35 feet has to widen its side and rear yards proportionally and clear a fire-access review; B-4, the county's downtown district built lot-line to lot-line, is exempted from the escalating setback requirement even though it shares the same uncapped height allowance.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the applicable height cap, 38 feet in R-1 through R-4 and the RU districts, or four stories in R-5 and R-5A, without a variance is a zoning violation subject to Florence County's general Code penalty, Sec. 1-13: a fine of up to $200.00, up to 30 days' imprisonment, or both, with each day the oversized structure remains treated as a separate offense. A commercial building over 35 feet built without the required fire-ladder approval from the fire department is a separate violation of Note (e).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Florence County?
What's the height limit in the R-5 multi-family district?
Is there a height limit for commercial buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Florence County
Compare Florence 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.