Building Setbacks & Zoning in Lexington County, SC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Lexington County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Lexington County's zoning ordinance measures setbacks as linear distances inward from property lines or road rights-of-way, per the Section 23.60 chart. A Residential Detached home needs at least a 10-foot setback from adjoining property lines and a 20-foot setback from the road right-of-way, rising to 30 feet if it has an attached garage, carport, or no garage at all.
Lexington County Yard Setback Minimums for Homes
Some RestrictionsLexington County, SC Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance §§ 23.30, 23.60
Setbacks delineate certain open spaces on lots. These spaces are linear distances measured from property lines inward. Buildings or other principal structures, or areas, comprising the principal activity of the lot may not encroach this space. A setback may accept an accessory activity, unless superseded by a buffer. Accessory buildings to residential activities must maintain a minimum 5-foot s...
Structure Height Limits
Building height in unincorporated Lexington County is capped by a height control slope rather than a flat number of feet. Zoning Ordinance Sec. 23.10 allows an initial 20-foot rise at the property line, then permits additional height only as the structure sets back further from the line under a district-specific slope ratio.
Lexington County Building Height Slope Rule
Some RestrictionsLexington County Zoning Ordinance § 23.10
Height regulations are based on the establishment of a height control slope. Initially, a 20-foot rise is permitted at the property line perpendicular to the property line. Then, based on the district concerned, and the activity involved, a height control slope is specified in terms of a ratio of vertical rise to horizontal distance... The International Residential Code for One- and Two-family ...
Lot Coverage Limits
Homes built in a Lexington County Residential Detached (Limited) development can cover no more than 50 percent of their lot, under Zoning Ordinance Section 122.13. The cap excludes accessory structures like pools and play equipment, and there's no coverage limit at all for the development's shared amenity areas, utilities, or other approved non-residential features.
Lexington County Lot Coverage Cap for Compact Developments
Some RestrictionsLexington County Zoning Ordinance § 122.13
122.13 Lot Coverage The maximum lot coverage for dwelling units within Residential Detached (Limited) developments shall be 50 percent (%). Accessory structures to the principal dwelling, including swimming pools, play grounds, or other personal recreational items do not have to conform to the maximum lot coverage requirement. There is no maximum lot coverage for proposed amenity areas, utiliti...
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