Darlington County, SC Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 22-32(1)g
- Restricted height band
- 2½ ft to 9 ft
- Sight-triangle legs
- 10 ft and 30 ft from corner
- Exempt items
- Utility poles, traffic/street signs
- Penalty
- Up to $200 fine or 15 days jail
Summary
Darlington County caps fences, walls and shrubbery between 2½ and 9 feet tall inside the sight-triangle at a street intersection under Code § 22-32(1)g. The triangle runs 10 feet and 30 feet from the corner along the pavement edges, and violating it is a countywide nuisance.
Shrubs, etc., on property adjacent to street intersections interfering with view of vehicles. It shall be unlawful for owners, tenants or occupants of property contiguous or adjacent to intersections of streets to permit or maintain on such property or lot any trees, bushes, shrubbery or other plant, fence, wall, building, terrace, or any sign or structure capable of obstructing driver vision between the height of 2½ feet and nine feet above the street level, when such plant or object is planted, placed, erected or maintained within the triangular area created by lines connecting points located at the edge of the pavement or travel surface a distance of ten feet and 30 feet, respectively, from the corner of all intersections as illustrated in Appendix A to Ord. No. 93-15, which is on file and available for inspection in the county offices; except that necessary utility poles and traffic, directional and street name signs may be permitted within such triangular area.
Full Breakdown
Section 22-32(1)g of the Darlington County Code declares it unlawful for an owner, tenant or occupant of property adjacent to a street intersection to place or maintain any tree, bush, shrub, fence, wall, building, terrace, sign or structure that obstructs a driver's view between 2½ feet and nine feet above street level. The restriction applies inside a triangular area formed by lines connecting points ten feet and 30 feet, respectively, from the corner along the edge of the pavement or travel surface at each intersection, as illustrated in Appendix A to Ordinance No.
93-15, on file at the county offices. The rule exists to keep drivers' sightlines clear of solid fencing, dense shrubbery or freestanding walls that could hide cross-traffic or pedestrians at a corner lot. Necessary utility poles and official traffic, directional and street-name signs are specifically exempted from the height restriction, since those serve a public safety function of their own. Because this sits inside the county's general nuisance article rather than a separate zoning height table, it applies countywide in unincorporated Darlington County, not just within the development-standards districts, and a fence builder on a corner lot should measure both the height and the triangle before installing solid screening near a road junction.
Violations & Fines
A fence, wall or hedge that blocks the visibility triangle is a nuisance under § 22-32, punishable under § 22-55 as a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200.00, imprisonment up to 15 days, or both. After a § 22-51 notice and any § 22-52 appeal are exhausted, each day the obstruction remains is treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my corner-lot fence be near a Darlington County intersection?
Where exactly does the visibility triangle start and end?
Are utility poles or street signs allowed inside the triangle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Darlington County
How Darlington County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Darlington County to another location·View the South Carolina fence regulations overview
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