Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Columbia, SC (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Columbia lets developers who build green earn a density bonus of up to one additional dwelling unit per acre above what the base zoning district otherwise allows, one of four incentives available under Sec. 17-5.12(b) of the Unified Development Ordinance to development that provides extra green building features beyond the minimum required elsewhere in the code.
Columbia's Green Building Density Bonus
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Unified Development Ordinance § 17-5.12(b)
Development integrating green building features in accordance with this section shall be eligible for the following incentives. ... a. A density bonus of up to one additional dwelling units per acre beyond the maximum allowed in the base zoning district; ... Development may include a sufficient number of green building features to take advantage of more than one type of incentive, but in no ins...
Downtown Design Guide
The OV-DC Downtown Columbia Overlay District applies the Downtown Columbia Design Guidelines, incorporated by reference, to prioritize pedestrian-friendly public space downtown. It caps building height at 75 feet near residential zones, bars parking lots as a principal use, and sets frontage-based setbacks throughout the overlay.
Columbia Downtown Overlay Design Guidelines
Significant RestrictionsColumbia Zoning Ordinance § 17-3.7(g), OV-DC: Downtown Columbia Overlay District
The purpose of the Downtown Columbia Overlay District is to prioritize the public realm by designing safe, comfortable, connected, and engaging spaces for pedstrians. ... Development in the OV-DC District shall comply with the Downtown Columbia Design Guidelines, which are incorporated herein by reference. ... Building height shall not exceed 75 feet in height if located within 300 feet of a re...
Looking for Richland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Richland County →