Building Setbacks & Zoning in Beaufort County, SC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Beaufort County sets yard setbacks zone by zone under its form-based Community Development Code rather than one countywide number. In the T2 Rural Neighborhood zone the minimums are 35 feet front, 20 feet side street, 12 feet side, and 50 feet rear, while the T1 Natural zone requires 50-foot front and side setbacks and a 100-foot rear setback.
Beaufort County Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Community Development Code § 3.2.50.D
D. Building Placement Setback (Distance from ROW/Property Line) Front 35' min. Side Street 20' min. Side: Side, Main Building 12' min. Side, Ancillary Building 10' min. Rear 50' min. Lot Size (21,780 SF Minimum) Width 100' min.
Structure Height Limits
Beaufort County caps building height by transect zone rather than with one countywide number. The T2 Rural Neighborhood zone limits main buildings to 2 stories, the T1 Natural zone caps buildings at '35 feet/2 stories max,' and the T4 Hamlet Center zone allows main buildings up to 2.5 stories with a half-story step-down rule near rear property lines.
Beaufort County Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Community Development Code § 3.2.50.E
E. Building Form Building Height Main Building 2 stories max. Ancillary Building 2 stories max. Ground Floor Finish Level 1 No Minimum
Lot Coverage Limits
Beaufort County caps how much of a lot buildings can cover, zone by zone. The T2 Rural Neighborhood zone limits Maximum Lot Coverage to '25% of lot area,' counting 'any and all buildings including accessory buildings,' while the T1 Natural Preserve zone lists no coverage cap because it is meant to stay largely undeveloped.
Beaufort County Maximum Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Community Development Code § 3.2.50.E
Footprint Maximum Lot Coverage 2 25% of lot area Miscellaneous Loading docks, overhead doors, and other service entries may not be located on street-facing facades. 2 Lot coverage is the portion of a lot that is covered by any and all buildings including accessory buildings.
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