Beaufort County, SC Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Min. distance from property line
- 50 feet
- Min. distance from residence/assembly
- 500 feet
- Hydrant required within
- 100 feet
- Temp. structure max size/duration
- 100 sq ft, 2 weeks
- Max stock on display
- 30 percent
- Existing-facility compliance deadline
- January 1984
Summary
Beaufort County treats retail fireworks facilities as fire hazards: buildings that store or sell them must be noncombustible, sit at least 50 feet from any property line and 500 feet from a residence or place of assembly, and keep a hydrant within 100 feet, under Code of Ordinances § 74-68. Manufacturing, storing, selling and discharging fireworks are all prohibited without a special county and state permit.
(a)Buildings. All buildings which store, possess, offer for sale, sell at retail or use or explode any fireworks shall meet the following requirements:(1)All structures which store or sell fireworks shall be noncombustible construction;(2)Exception. Temporary structures, not exceeding 100 square feet, may be combustible construction. Temporary structures shall not be used for periods exceeding two weeks;...(4)All buildings shall be at least 50 feet from any property line and shall be located not closer than 500 feet to any residence or place of public assembly;(5)A fire hydrant shall be located within 100 feet of the building; and(6)The owner/operator shall display a sign visible to the public stating that "the discharge of fireworks within Beaufort County without special permit is illegal."...(e)Discharge. Fireworks shall not be discharged within the county except by special permit issued by the local fire chief, or his designee, and the state fire marshal for public display by a licensed pyrotechnician.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Section 74-68(a) requires any building that stores, sells or displays fireworks to be noncombustible construction, wired with rigid metallic conduit and explosion-proof fixtures, sited at least 50 feet from any property line and not closer than 500 feet to a residence or place of public assembly, with a fire hydrant within 100 feet. A temporary structure may be combustible only if it is 100 square feet or smaller and used for no more than two weeks. Every retail site must post a sign stating that discharging fireworks in the county without a special permit is illegal.
Section 74-68(b) caps floor displays at 30 percent of stock on hand at any one time, and § 74-68(c) required existing facilities to come into compliance by January 1984. Section 74-68(d) prohibits manufacturing, storing or selling fireworks in the county except under special state and local permits, and § 74-68(e) bars discharging fireworks anywhere in the county except under a special permit issued jointly by the local fire chief (or designee) and the State Fire Marshal for a public display run by a licensed pyrotechnician. Section 74-68 cross-references the county's fire prevention and protection chapter, ch. 42, for enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Operating a fireworks sales building that fails the noncombustible-construction, setback, hydrant or signage rules in § 74-68(a), exceeding the 30-percent display cap in § 74-68(b), or discharging fireworks anywhere in the county without a joint permit from the fire chief and the State Fire Marshal under § 74-68(e), all violate this section, which is enforced together with the county's fire prevention chapter, ch. 42.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up a temporary fireworks stand in Beaufort County?
Is it legal to shoot off fireworks at home in unincorporated Beaufort County?
How much of a retailer's fireworks stock can be on display at once?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beaufort County
How Beaufort County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Beaufort County to another location·View the South Carolina fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.