Anderson County, SC Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- District
- R-A, Residential Agricultural (§ 5:2)
- Minimum lot area
- 1 acre (§ 5:2.3)
- Lot width
- 30 ft (100 ft at building line)
- Side/rear yard
- 50 ft each (§ 5:2.6-5:2.7)
- Farm-building buffer
- 300 ft if barn over 3,000 sq ft
Summary
Anderson County zones farmland through the R-A, Residential Agricultural District. Sec. 5:2 allows crop production, livestock pens, barns, riding stables and tree farms as uses permitted by right on any one-acre-minimum lot, reserving denser development for districts planned for it instead.
The purpose of this district is to provide for a full range of agricultural activities. This district also provides for spacious residential development for those who choose this environment and prevents untimely scattering of more dense urban uses that should be confined to areas planned for efficient extension of public services. ... 5:2.1.Uses permitted. Agricultural crops, including pens and structures for the raising of farm animals. ... 5:2.3.Lot area. The minimum lot area shall be one acre.5:2.4.Lot width. Minimum lot width for a single-family detached dwelling shall be 30 feet with no less than 100-foot lot width at the building line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2).
Full Breakdown
1 permits by right, among other uses, "agricultural crops, including pens and structures for the raising of farm animals," barns, riding academies, riding stables, a tree farm, and nursery/greenhouse operations, plus accessory structures customary to those uses. , produced on the property" only as a use permitted by special exception, meaning a farmer needs board of zoning appeals approval under Article 7 before opening one, unlike the by-right farming uses. 7 set front yards of 30 to 50 feet depending on road classification, a 50-foot side yard (20 feet on a corner abutting a street), and a 50-foot rear yard.
10 adds a farm-specific buffer: where an R-A use abuts an existing church, public park, or school, any new barn or farm-animal structure larger than 3,000 square feet must sit at least 300 feet from that use's property boundary, while a structure of 3,000 square feet or less needs only a 50-foot setback. 11 requires a 100-foot undisturbed bufferyard where a nonresidential use or subdivision abuts residential property. This regulatory package, not a separate right-to-farm statute, is how the county code protects and organizes agricultural land use in the unincorporated area; incorporated municipalities like the City of Anderson zone under their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
The zoning administrator enforces Article 5 under Sec. 8:1.2, first issuing written notice describing the violation and ordering the corrective action, which can include discontinuing an illegal use or ordering removal of an illegal structure. Continued noncompliance after that notice is a misdemeanor triable in magistrate's court under Article 14, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense, and the county may also seek injunctive relief in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep farm animals on R-A zoned land in Anderson County?
How big does my lot need to be to farm in the R-A district?
Can I sell my own produce from a roadside stand?
How close can a new barn be built to a neighboring church or school?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anderson County
Compare Anderson County to another location·View the South Carolina right to farm overview
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