Dorchester County, SC Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

23(B) of the county's Zoning and Land Development Standards Ordinance (Ord. No. 04-13) treats festivals, fundraisers, cultural events, and outdoor concerts as "Temporary Events" that require a Temporary Event Permit before they can be held anywhere in unincorporated Dorchester County. The application must reach the county at least 30 days before the event date and has to include a detailed letter of intent stating the dates, times, expected number of participants, and whether alcohol will be served or amplified sound will be used; a scaled site plan showing vehicular circulation, parking, restrooms, and vendor locations; and, where the host or a vendor will sell goods or alcohol, a county business license and a valid Department of Revenue alcohol permit.

Temporary event permits are issued only in coordination with the relevant county departments, meaning Planning and Zoning routes the application to agencies such as the Sheriff's Office, Fire, and EMS before signing off. Once approved, the rules cap how often and how big an event can be at any one location: no more than three special event permits per site per calendar year, each valid for no more than three consecutive days, with daily attendance limited to 999 people. m. The site itself must have direct access to a county-classified collector or arterial road, which keeps festival traffic off narrow residential streets. 23(C), which apply to properties that host special events on a recurring basis rather than a single scheduled festival.