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Fire Regulations in Beaufort County, SC (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Beaufort County, South Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Beaufort County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires

Beaufort County exempts campfires and fire pits used solely for recreational purposes from its outdoor-burning restrictions, as long as the fire is kept in a safe manner. That exemption lives inside the county's outdoor-burning article, which otherwise limits open burning of yard debris to set hours and distances from structures in the unincorporated county.

Beaufort County Backyard Fire Pit Rules

Light Restrictions

Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 38-158(b)

Nothing in this article shall be meant to restrict open burning in connection with the preparation of food for consumption, campfires or other like fires intended solely for recreational purposes, or those fires necessary for religious or ceremonial occasions, or for providing human warmth, so long as said fires are maintained in a safe manner.

Fireworks

Beaufort County treats retail fireworks facilities as fire hazards: buildings that store or sell them must be noncombustible, sit at least 50 feet from any property line and 500 feet from a residence or place of assembly, and keep a hydrant within 100 feet, under Code of Ordinances § 74-68. Manufacturing, storing, selling and discharging fireworks are all prohibited without a special county and state permit.

Beaufort County Fireworks Sale and Discharge Rules

Significant Restrictions

Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 74-68

(a)Buildings. All buildings which store, possess, offer for sale, sell at retail or use or explode any fireworks shall meet the following requirements:(1)All structures which store or sell fireworks shall be noncombustible construction;(2)Exception. Temporary structures, not exceeding 100 square feet, may be combustible construction. Temporary structures shall not be used for periods exceeding ...

Outdoor Burning

Beaufort County bans open burning in the unincorporated county except limited yard-debris burning on residential land, allowed only 75 feet from structures or roads and only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Red flag alerts trigger an automatic countywide ban.

Beaufort County Open Burning Rules

Significant Restrictions

Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 38-152

The open burning of leaves, tree branches, yard trimmings, and other vegetative matter originating on the premises of residential properties located within the unincorporated areas of Beaufort County shall be permitted, provided that any such open burning must be located no less than 75 feet from any structure or road. Adequate provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to any ...

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