Orangeburg County, SC Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

5 of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A) splits tree-removal permitting into three phases. 2, without the Zoning Administrator's prior approval is prohibited outright; the ordinance directs that approval shall not be unreasonably withheld once a legitimate reason is shown. During grading and construction, the ordinance requires a protected area equal to one foot of radius for every inch of the tree's DBH, and within that ring paving, grading, and the storage of dirt, building materials, debris or equipment are all barred. That protected area has to be enclosed by a barrier built to a standard the Zoning Administrator approves before a grading permit issues, and the barrier has to stay up and be maintained until the project earns its Certificate of Occupancy; letting the barrier fail can cost the applicant the building or grading permit itself.

After development, the same permission requirement continues, with listed exceptions for trees that endanger public health or safety, storm and disaster emergencies, unusual site conditions the Zoning Administrator may accommodate, wetland mitigation, diseased or nuisance trees, and pine trees, which can be removed at any size without regard to DBH. An individual homeowner cutting a significant tree on their own residential property is exempt from the review process entirely.