Beaufort County, SC Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Beaufort County's erosion and sediment control standard sits in the Community Development Code's Resource Protection Standards, not the general Code of Ordinances. Section 5.11.20.F, "Protection of Natural Resources During Construction," applies countywide to development affecting the natural resource areas mapped under this Division: tidal and non-tidal wetlands, beach-dunes, river buffers, endangered species habitat, flood hazard areas, forests and protected trees. Before any clearing, grading or site alteration begins, the developer must erect "a conspicuous four-foot-high barrier to prevent encroachment by people and vehicles... around the resource protection zone," and the Director or designee must approve that barrier on site. No building materials, dirt, debris, oils, paints, equipment or vehicles may be placed or stored inside the protected area while the barrier stands, and it must remain in place until the county issues a Certificate of Compliance.

Where the site touches a wetland or river buffer, § 5.11.20.F.2 layers on a silt fence requirement, installed at least one foot into the buildable portion of the lot alongside the four-foot barrier. Utility work gets the same treatment: § 5.11.20.F.3 bars any underground line, trench or paved crossing inside a resource protection zone, forcing utilities to route around it instead. Separately, § 5.13.20.B lets a landowner place limited fill for erosion control as a "property maintenance" exemption from the county's Fill Standards, but only if the work comes with a stabilization plan and narrative that the Public Works Director approves explaining why the fill is needed to solve the erosion problem.