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Florence County, SC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Florence County, SC, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Governing division: Chapter 30, Division 4, FH Flood Hazard District
Permit required: Before any development activity in the floodplain
Enforcing office: County local administrator
Violation penalty: Misdemeanor for violating a stop-work order
Appeal path: Variance via the construction board of adjustment and appeals

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Florence County, SC.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Florence County, SC on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

Anyone developing land in unincorporated Florence County's FH Flood Hazard District must get a development permit from the local administrator before any construction begins. Applications require scaled plans showing floodplain contours, structure elevations, and drainage facilities. Violating a stop-work order once construction begins is a misdemeanor under County Code § 30-61.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Florence County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(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 of fill materials, storage areas, and drainage facilities. Specifically, the following information is required: ... (2)Stop work orders. Whenever a building or part thereof is being constructed, reconstructed, altered, or repaired in violation of this division, the administrator may order the work to be immediately stopped. ... Violation of a stop work order constitutes a misdemeanor.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Unincorporated Florence County designates flood hazard districts under Chapter 30, Division 4 of the zoning ordinance, covering floodplains, areas of shallow flooding, special flood hazard areas, and floodways mapped by FEMA. Before any development activity begins in one of these areas, County Code § 30-61(a) requires the applicant to obtain a development permit from the local administrator, using forms that show the nature, location, dimensions, and elevations of the site, existing or proposed structures, and the placement of fill, storage areas, and drainage facilities. Where the lot sits within or appears to be within the 100-year floodplain, the applicant must submit a plot plan showing the floodplain and floodway contours, prepared and certified by a registered land surveyor or professional engineer.

If base flood elevation data exists, the permit application must show the elevation of the lowest floor of every new or substantially improved structure, or the floodproofed elevation if nonresidential construction is floodproofed instead of elevated. The local administrator reviews every permit for compliance, inspects work in progress, and can issue a written stop-work order the moment construction proceeds in violation of the division; § 30-61(d)(2) makes violating that stop-work order a misdemeanor. The administrator can also revoke a permit issued on a false statement or a substantial departure from the approved plans.

An owner who fails to correct a cited violation faces a hearing before the administrator and, ultimately, an order to alter, vacate, demolish the structure, or remove the fill, appealable to the county's governing body within ten days.

Violations & Fines

Building or altering a structure in the FH Flood Hazard District without a development permit, or continuing work after a stop-work order, is a misdemeanor under § 30-61(d)(2), punished at the court's discretion. The local administrator can also revoke a permit obtained through false statements or a substantial plan departure (§ 30-61(d)(3)), and can pursue FEMA Section 1316 flood-insurance denial against a structure whose violation is never remedied (§ 30-61(c)(10)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in unincorporated Florence County's floodplain?

Yes. County Code § 30-61(a) requires a development permit from the local administrator before any development activity in an FH Flood Hazard District, with scaled plans showing the site's floodplain contours, structure elevations, and drainage facilities submitted in advance.

What happens if I build without one?

The local administrator can issue a written stop-work order the moment unpermitted work is found, and continuing after that order is a misdemeanor under § 30-61(d)(2). The administrator can also revoke the permit and require corrective action, including an order to alter or demolish the structure.

Can I appeal a flood-permit denial or violation order?

Yes. Under § 30-63(a), the construction board of adjustment and appeals hears variance requests from Division 4's requirements, and § 30-61(d)(8) lets an owner appeal a corrective-action order to the county's governing body within ten days of the final order.

Sources & Official References

[1]Florence County Code of Ordinances (Municode)

Other rules in Florence County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Florence County rules

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