Orangeburg County, SC Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Section 24-3(a)(5) expressly names "filming" as an example of a "special event" alongside concerts, parades, festivals and sporting competitions, so a production company shooting on a public street, park or other location within unincorporated Orangeburg County falls under the same permit scheme that governs parades and festivals. Subsection (b) makes it unlawful to conduct, promote, sponsor, organize or enable such a shoot without first obtaining a special event permit from the county, and holding the permit does not excuse the production from also getting any other required state or local permit, such as a county business license.

Under subsection (c), the applicant must submit a complete application that includes a site plan showing existing facilities and any proposed temporary facilities, a description of all activities to be conducted, the dates, times and locations of filming, and a description of the safety, health and welfare measures planned for both the crew and the surrounding community. The application must be filed no more than one year and no less than 45 days before filming begins, though the OES director may shorten that window at his discretion.

Subsection (d) lets OES require endorsement from another government agency with relevant expertise and directs the county administrator to set the criteria for granting, denying or conditioning the permit, covering security, fire and life safety, traffic circulation and parking, temporary structures, lighting, location, activities and proximity to residences, churches and schools; OES may also require insurance or a bond. 00 administration fee with every application, plus reimbursement of any additional county costs for personnel, equipment, sanitation and facility restoration under the county's adopted fee schedule.

The permit must be displayed on site for the duration of the shoot, and it is valid for no more than seven consecutive days including setup and teardown unless OES issues an annual permit. Filming without the required permit is enforced the same way as any other unpermitted special event under subsection (k).