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Beaufort County, SC Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing sections: CDC §§ 5.8.30 and 2.9.70
Native requirement: Mandatory for street trees in T1-T3, C3 zones
Nursery standard: ANSI Z60.1 nursery stock standard
Max penalty: $500 fine or 30 days jail per violation
Companion list: County Code Ch. 106 Appendix E Tree/Plant List

Summary

Beaufort County's Community Development Code pushes new landscaping toward native, drought-tolerant plants countywide and requires it outright for street trees in the T1, T2, T3 and C3 zones. Table 2.9.70.A calls for species 'requiring minimal irrigation, fertilization and maintenance,' clustered naturalistically, while Section 5.8.30 sets nursery-stock standards for every landscape plan the Department of Community Development reviews.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Beaufort County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

D.Plant Materials.1.All landscape plant materials shall conform to the latest version of the American Standard of Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1, as amended).2.The use of indigenous, drought tolerant vegetation shall be encouraged and utilized whenever practicable.

View official code

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

30 (General Landscape Design Applicable to All Zones) governs every landscape plan submitted with a Development Plan, Land Development Plan or subdivision application. ' That is a countywide design preference, not a hard mandate, for private yards and general site landscaping. The mandate tightens for public street frontages. 70 (Public Frontages), splits the zones into two regimes. D lets the Director count existing trees toward the street tree requirement. C, and the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances (Chapter 106, Appendix E) carries a companion Tree and Plant List the Department uses when reviewing submitted plans.

Violations & Fines

Landscaping shown on an approved plan is enforceable like any other Development Code standard: failing to install or maintain it is a violation under Section 9.2.20, and substituting non-conforming species without approval can trigger a Notice of Violation from the Code Enforcement Department under Section 9.4.40. Convicted violators face a misdemeanor fine of up to $500 or 30 days' imprisonment under Section 9.5.10, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense under Section 9.4.70.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Beaufort County require native plants on private residential lots?

Not as a hard mandate. Section 5.8.30.D says indigenous, drought-tolerant vegetation 'shall be encouraged and utilized whenever practicable' for general landscape plans, while all plant material must meet the ANSI Z60.1 nursery-stock standard. The firm native-species requirement applies specifically to street tree plantings in certain zones, not to interior yard landscaping.

Which zones require native street trees?

Table 2.9.70.A requires primarily native species for street landscaping in the T1 Natural, T2 Rural, T3 and C3 Neighborhood Mixed Use zones. The more urban T4, C4, C5 and S1 zones instead call for durable, compaction-tolerant species planted in regular rows rather than naturalistic clusters.

What happens if a developer plants the wrong species?

The Code Enforcement Department can issue a Notice of Violation under Section 9.4.40 and require replacement. Continued noncompliance is a misdemeanor under Section 9.5.10, punishable by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail, with each day treated as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

[1]Beaufort County Community Development Code § 5.8.30 / § 2.9.70

Other rules in Beaufort County

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All Beaufort County rules

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