Environmental Rules in Pickens County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Pickens County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Anyone disturbing one acre or more of land in unincorporated Pickens County, or a smaller tract that is part of a larger development plan reaching one acre, must obtain a land-disturbance permit and stormwater management plan from the Pickens County Office of Stormwater Management under Code Section 38-325. The rules also apply inside Pickens and Liberty city limits. Skipping the permit draws a stop-work order and civil penalties of up to $1,000.00 per day.
Stormwater Management Rules in Pickens County
Some RestrictionsPickens County Code §§ 38-324, 38-325, 38-337
(a)No person shall conduct any land-disturbing activities without having provided for appropriate stormwater management measures that control or manage runoff, in compliance with this article, unless exempted in subsection 38-325(c).(b)The provisions of this article shall apply throughout the unincorporated areas in the county and in the city limits of Pickens and Liberty. ... (a)When required....
Erosion Control
Any land-disturbing activity of one acre or more in unincorporated Pickens County must include a sediment and erosion control plan under Code Section 38-331, showing the site's topography, drainage, soil types, and the specific measures used to stop erosion and sedimentation during construction. Older, already-developed sites are not exempt: Section 38-333 requires denuded areas to be revegetated and cuts, slopes, and drainage ways stabilized on a schedule the county approves.
Erosion and Sediment Control Plans, Pickens County
Some RestrictionsPickens County Code §§ 38-331, 38-333
The sediment and erosion control plan shall accurately describe the potential for soil erosion and sedimentation problems likely to result from the land-disturbing activity, and shall explain and illustrate the measures that is to be taken to control these problems. The plan shall conform to the requirements found in the stormwater design manual and shall include the following: →Project descrip...
Flood Zones
Any development activity in a special flood hazard area of unincorporated Pickens County needs a development permit from the local administrator before work starts, under Code Chapter 24, Article II. Applicants must submit scaled plans showing elevations, structures and fill locations, and show the parcel's 100-year floodplain contour. Violating the article is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500.00 fine or 30 days in jail.
Pickens County Floodplain Development Permit
Some RestrictionsPickens County Code § 24-64
(a)Development permit. Application for a development permit shall be made to the local administrator on forms furnished by him or her prior to any development activities. The development permit may include, but not be limited to, plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing: the nature, location, dimensions, and elevations of the area in question; existing or proposed structures; and the location ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New or substantially improved residential structures in a Pickens County special flood hazard area must have their lowest floor at least one foot above the base flood elevation, with no basements allowed, under Code § 24-82(1). The same one-foot freeboard standard applies to non-residential buildings and manufactured homes placed in mapped flood zones.
Pickens County Base Flood Elevation Standard
Some RestrictionsPickens County Code §§ 24-34, 24-82(1)
Freeboard. A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of flood plain management. "Freeboard" tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the waters...
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