Environmental Rules in Laurens County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Laurens County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Laurens County folds stormwater management into its Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance rather than a standalone code. Any construction disturbing one acre or more, or smaller sites within a larger development, must carry SCDHEC coverage under the state's NPDES stormwater construction permit before the county Building Codes Department will issue its own land disturbance permit, keeping runoff and sediment out of streams and lakes.
Laurens County Stormwater & NPDES Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsLaurens County Code §§ 8-53, 8-55
Stormwater means the direct runoff response of a watershed to rainfall, including the surface and subsurface runoff and any associated material that enters a ditch, stream or storm sewer during a rainfall event. ... (2)South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) has issued coverage under an applicable NPDES stormwater permit for construction activities (clearing, grad...
Erosion Control
Laurens County requires a land disturbance permit before any grading, clearing or construction disturbs unincorporated land, administered by the Building Codes Department under the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance. Projects moving one-quarter acre or more need county approval, and larger sites also need an SCDHEC NPDES stormwater permit. Willful violations carry fines up to $1,000 per day.
Laurens County Erosion & Sediment Control Permits
Some RestrictionsLaurens County Code §§ 8-55, 8-68
No grading permit for grading, construction or land disturbance may be undertaken within the unincorporated areas of Laurens County until a land disturbance permit has been issued by the building codes department or the activity has been exempted as per this article. ... (1)Approving authority which requires a land disturbance permit to be issued for grading one-fourth acre up to one acre. ... ...
Flood Zones
Unincorporated Laurens County requires a development permit before any building, filling, grading or other man-made change occurs in a FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area. The Flood Damage Prevention ordinance, tied to the county's June 20, 2019 FEMA flood insurance study, is enforced by the local floodplain administrator, and violations are a misdemeanor punishable by fines and jail time.
Laurens County Floodplain Development Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsLaurens County Code §§ 8-234, 8-235, 8-240
This article shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of Laurens County as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its flood insurance study, dated June 20, 2019 with accompanying maps and other supporting data that are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this article. ... A development permit shall be required in conf...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In mapped special flood hazard areas with known base flood elevation data, Laurens County requires new and substantially improved homes, including manufactured homes, to sit with their lowest floor at least three feet above the base flood elevation. Basements are banned outright, and non-residential buildings face the same three-foot freeboard or must be fully floodproofed instead.
Laurens County Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Significant RestrictionsLaurens County Code § 8-289(1)
In all areas of special flood hazard (zones A, AE, AH, AO, Al-30, V, and VE) where base flood elevation data has been provided, as set forth in section 8-234 or outlined in the duties and responsibilities of the local floodplain administrator section 8-262, the following provisions are required: ... (1)Residential construction. New construction and substantial improvement of any residential str...
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