Greenville County, SC Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Greenville County does not prohibit residential backyard composting of yard trimmings and food scraps, and the county supports diverting yard waste from the landfill. A home compost pile is generally treated as normal yard maintenance, but it must be managed so it does not become an odor, rodent, or health nuisance that could be cited under the county's nuisance and property-maintenance rules. Meat and dairy scraps are best avoided to prevent pests. Larger or commercial-scale composting operations are regulated by the state (SCDES) and can require permits. On genuine agricultural operations, composting tied to farming is shielded from nuisance suits by the South Carolina Right to Farm Act. Cities and HOAs may add their own limits.