Georgetown County, SC Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

The stormwater management utility, created by Ordinance No. 2007-32 and codified at Georgetown County Code § 8-31 et seq., charges every developed parcel in unincorporated Georgetown County a service charge tied to impervious surface area. One equivalent residential unit (ERU) equals 3,770 square feet of impervious area (§ 8-38); detached single-family homes are billed a flat one ERU, while other developed lands are billed per each 3,770 square feet or fraction of impervious area on the parcel (§ 8-38.1). Developed land carrying less than 400 square feet of impervious surface pays no stormwater charge at all.

As initially codified, the annual charge for one ERU is $52. The Public Services Director bills the charge, often as a line item on the county property tax bill, and a bill is declared delinquent if unpaid within 60 days of billing (§ 8-39). A property owner who believes the charge was applied in error must first file a written appeal with the Public Services Director within 30 days of the bill, supported by a sealed survey from a registered land surveyor or professional engineer showing total property area and impervious surface area; the director must respond in writing within 30 days.

An adverse decision can be appealed further to the county administrator within 30 days, whose written decision is final (§ 8-41). Credits against the charge are available for privately maintained on-site stormwater systems that reduce demand on the county utility, under a credit manual the county council must approve (§ 8-38.2). Homestead and disabled-veteran property tax exemptions under S.C. Code § 12-37-220 also exempt the affected parcel from the stormwater charge.