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

Greenville County Code § 18-61 applies its encroachment rules to "any and all uses of county road rights-of-way for public, private or governmental purposes," not just utility work, so a private party disturbing the shoulder, ditch, or sidewalk area of a county road needs a permit from the Engineering/Maintenance Division. Under § 18-64(a), applications must be filed at least 2 working days before construction begins; an emergency cut requires notifying the Division immediately and filing the full permit within 7 working days. Approved permits begin on the date of Division approval and expire 1 year later; if no work has begun, the permit lapses after 90 days, and working under an expired permit draws the same fine as working with no permit at all.

5 feet in height, aerial utility crossings that maintain clearance, and mailbox installation (though a mailbox may never obstruct a sidewalk). Fees under § 18-66 start at $35 for the first 20,000 linear feet of an encroachment or the first 5 acres of non-linear disturbance, with $35 increments beyond that; cutting a road resurfaced within the last 3 years costs $335 the first year, dropping to $235 and $135 in later years, and requires third-party compaction reports confirming 95% compaction. New construction pays a $10 general fee covering one driveway connection.

Longitudinal installations in unpaved areas require a bond starting at $200 for the first 50 feet plus $100 per additional 50 feet, or a continuous $5,000 performance bond for contractors doing repeat work; curb cuts for driveways need at least a $300 bond, and new subdivision street connections need at least $1,000. A final inspection occurs 9 months after construction completes before the Division releases the bond.