Dorchester County, SC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Dorchester County, SC, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- County Zoning Administrator
- Grand tree
- 24-inch DBH (incl. pine)
- Home-lot exemption
- Not for non-pine Grand trees
- Lead time
- 3 business days
- Summerville
- Separate town permit
Summary
Dorchester County requires a Tree Removal Permit from the Zoning Administrator to destroy any Protected tree. Even an occupied single-family lot of one acre or less must still get a permit to remove a non-pine Grand tree of 24-inch DBH.
A single-family residential site equal to or smaller than one (1) acre shall be exempt from protecting Significant trees, Required Trees, and pine trees, but not Grand trees other than pine, provided the lot is occupied by one (1) single-family house or one (1) manufactured home with a Certificate of Occupancy for at least two (2) years.
Full Breakdown
The permit that matters is the county Tree Removal Permit. Under the Tree and Canopy Protection Standards, it is unlawful to fell or destroy a Protected tree, Grand trees at 24 inches DBH and Significant trees at 15 to 24 inches, without one. The striking part is the homeowner rule: a single-family lot of one acre or less with two years' certificate of occupancy is exempt from protecting Significant, Required, and pine trees, but not non-pine Grand trees. So a homeowner still needs a permit to remove a 24-inch live oak. Applications are made at least three business days ahead. Summerville's town permit is separate and stricter.
Violations & Fines
Destroying a Protected or Grand tree without a permit violates the ordinance. Development removals require a tree survey; unauthorized Grand-tree loss can force mitigation planting and hold up the land disturbance permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dorchester County require a tree-removal permit?
How far ahead must I apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dorchester County
Compare Dorchester County to another location·View the South Carolina landscaping rules overview
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