Columbia, SC Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

11(d)(4), Columbia's Green Building Point System, part of the mandatory green building standards at Sec. 11 that apply to all new development except residential projects under three units, nonresidential projects under 5,000 square feet, remodels of existing buildings, and projects already LEED Gold certified. 00 point for a fenced, centrally located community garden space, which may be a rooftop garden, sized at 50 square feet per dwelling unit. Covered residential development must reach 3 points overall for 3 to 29 units or 4 points for 30 units or more; covered nonresidential and mixed-use development needs 3 points between 5,000 and 25,000 square feet, or 4 points above that threshold.

Composting is never mandatory on its own; it is simply a way to help satisfy the point minimum. Review of any claimed composting credit happens during the underlying development application, whether for a planned unit development, special exception, development agreement, certificate of design approval, or site plan under Sec. 11(c), and the applicant must document at submittal how the station will be provided and maintained, since features that cannot be visually verified require invoices, receipts, or delivery confirmation.