Dorchester County, SC Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Sec. 38-21 limits encroachment permits to a public purpose, convenience, necessity, or a water, sewer, electricity, transportation or other utility installation; driveway entrances are carved out and handled instead under the chapter's driveway-permit articles. Before a permit issues, Sec. 38-22 requires the grantee to certify the purpose of the easement, the area affected, and whether similar service is already available from another utility, and Sec. 38-23 requires written assurance that the grantee will comply with all applicable local, state and federal safety laws and will assume liability for any injury arising from use of the easement.

Sec. 38-24 requires notice to the public works department before any construction, installation or repair begins, and Sec. 38-25 makes the grantee indemnify the county against third-party claims from traffic interruptions the work causes. Sec. 38-26 puts the cost of flagging, warning devices, inspection, restoration and one year of post-issuance maintenance on the grantee, and Sec. 38-27 limits use to what the permit specifies, barring any use that impedes normal street, drainage or drainageway operation. Sec. 38-31 lets the public works director issue a conditional permit for sewer or water lines that are not yet operable pending the state health department's hookup approval.

If a violation occurs, Sec. 38-29 gives the public works director several remedies: suspending the permit, requiring a bond, refusing new permits to the same grantee, issuing a sheriff-enforced stop-work order for serious violations, or requiring restitution, and Sec. 38-30 bars a certificate of occupancy for any structure tied to an ongoing violation.