Lexington County, SC Home Business: Customer Traffic Restrictions (2026)

Sec. 22, as rewritten by Ord. No. 23-17 (June 25, 2024), lists a set of activities that are not permitted as part of a home occupation unless an appropriate variance is granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals. Item e on that list is traffic generation substantially in excess of that which would normally be expected in a residential setting, meaning a home business that would bring a steady stream of client or delivery vehicles beyond ordinary household traffic is not automatically legal just because it fits the 750-square-foot/25-percent floor area cap.

The ordinance does not set a numeric daily-trip cap for ordinary home occupations, but it treats excess traffic as disqualifying unless the applicant secures a variance, the same discretionary relief process used for exterior displays, mechanical hazards, outdoor storage, structural alterations and staffing beyond a resident. The one built-in exception in this section is for home occupation day care under item h, where the ordinance specifically allows one drop-off and one pick-up trip per enrolled individual each day without that counting against the traffic restriction.

Applicants who anticipate client visits, deliveries, or other regular vehicle activity beyond typical household levels need to request a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals before operating, since there is no administrative waiver available for this item.