7 rules for unincorporated Greenville County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Greenville County's Zoning Ordinance sets no general height cap on residential fences in yards. The only county height rule is the sight triangle at intersections: nothing may exceed 30 inches where it would obstruct clear sight across the triangle.
Greenville County LDR Sec. 8.14.1 (Sight Triangles)
The planting of trees or other plantings, or the location of structures exceeding thirty (30) inches in height that would obstruct the clear sight across the area is prohibited. The county has the right to remove any object, material or otherwise, that obstructs the clear sight.
The county Zoning Ordinance requires a Building Permit endorsed by the Zoning Administrator before land is used or a structure is erected. Confirm fence-specific permitting with Building Safety at 864-467-7425 before you build.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3:6
No land shall be used, occupied, or excavated, and no building or other structure shall be erected, structurally altered, added to, or moved until approval for the issuance of a Building Permit has been granted by the Zoning Administrator.
Greenville County's Zoning Ordinance does not set rules on shared, boundary, or good-neighbor fences, cost-sharing, or which side faces out. These are civil matters between owners under South Carolina property law.
Greenville County sets no general residential retaining-wall height in its zoning code, but structural retaining walls are subject to the county Building Permit rule, and the Land Development Regulations bar walls that obstruct intersection sight triangles or sit in public rights-of-way.
Greenville County LDR, Article 5 (entrance islands / rights-of-way)
No above-ground structures, such as retaining walls, raised planter beds or water features and/or fountains, are allowed in any island or within right of way of a public road.
Greenville County does not require ordinary residential fences, but its Zoning Ordinance mandates 6-foot screening fences (or equivalent buffers) around pools encroaching side yards, certain storage areas, and buffer zones between incompatible uses.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 6 (swimming pool side-yard screening)
Screening shall consist of a 6-foot wall, fence, berm, evergreen screening plant material, or a combination of wall, fence, berm or evergreen screening plant material with a combined minimum height of 6 feet above grade.
The Greenville County Zoning Ordinance sets no restrictions on residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, chain-link, masonry). Where screening or buffering is required, the code specifies an opaque wall, fence, berm, or evergreen material instead.
Greenville County zoning does not dictate fence materials for ordinary residential lots, so wood, vinyl, aluminum, masonry, and chain-link are all allowed. Confirm any building-code or screening requirements with Building Safety before building.
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