Aiken County, SC Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Aiken County's off-street loading standard sits in the Highway Corridor Overlay District (HCO) portion of the zoning ordinance, which covers nonresidential and multifamily projects fronting or within 200 feet of eight designated corridors, including Whiskey Road, Atomic Road, Martintown Road, Belvedere Clearwater Road, Edgefield Road, Jefferson Davis Highway and Silver Bluff Road (Sec. 3). Detached single-family homes are exempt (Sec. 10(3)c). Under Sec. 10, any development whose normal operation requires routine delivery or shipment of goods, merchandise or equipment must provide a loading area sized off a sliding scale tied to gross floor area: one space up to 25,000 square feet, two spaces from 25,001 to 40,000 square feet, three spaces from 40,001 to 100,000 square feet, four spaces from 100,001 to 160,000 square feet, and one additional space for every 80,000 square feet beyond that.

The planning and development director can require more or fewer spaces after reviewing the applicant's data. Each space must measure at least 12 by 40 feet with 14 feet of overhead clearance, and the area must let trucks maneuver on-site without blocking a right-of-way, parking space or aisle; backing into the street is flatly barred. A loading area cannot double as required parking, or vice versa. A narrow exception lets a pre-existing lot with a use change but no building expansion comply only 'to the extent reasonably possible' where site area cannot accommodate the standard. Site plan review by the planning and development department confirms compliance before a building permit issues.