Greenwood County, SC Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Greenwood County Code Section 11-4-4, adopted by Ordinance No. 18-00 on June 20, 2000, bars any person from allowing weeds, grass or other vegetation to grow more than 12 inches on property within the county, whether or not the lot has structures on it, and requires all properties except approved agricultural lots to be cleared of such brush. Subsection (b) separately forbids letting dead trees, limbs or underbrush accumulate in a way that creates a fire or health hazard to surrounding properties. Subsection (c) carves out a distance exemption: grasses, weeds, undergrowth and rank vegetation are not regulated once they sit more than 50 feet from any building, structure or recreational area, or more than 30 feet from a street right-of-way, so wooded back lots are not swept in.

The chapter's definitions section, Section 11-4-2, separately calls 'grassy overgrowth' a threat when weeds, vines and grass reach 12 inches or more and can conceal litter or harbor rats and other vectors. The county litter officer enforces Section 11-4-4 under the administration and enforcement provisions of Section 11-4-6, which requires 15 to 30 days' written notice to correct a violation before penalties apply.