Historic Preservation in South Carolina (2026)
18 rules on the books across South Carolina, 18 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Historic-Cultural Monuments
How buildings, sites, and trees are nominated and designated as Historic-Cultural Monuments, the protections that follow, and the demolition-stay process.
Oconee County
Heavy RestrictionsChapter 40, Article V protects every historical memorial, marker, monument, tombstone, or plaque on publicly owned or…
Read full rule →Beaufort County
Significant RestrictionsBeaufort County's Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) keeps a countywide inventory of historic buildings…
Read full rule →Columbia
Significant RestrictionsColumbia's OV-HP Historic Preservation Overlay District designates Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 landmarks based on…
Read full rule →Dorchester County
Significant RestrictionsDorchester County requires a Special Area Permit before any construction, alteration, or nearby development affecting a…
Read full rule →Horry County
Significant RestrictionsHorry County's Historic Preservation Commission designates historic properties, districts, cemeteries and trees under…
Read full rule →Mount Pleasant
Significant RestrictionsIn the Town of Mount Pleasant, no memorial, monument, dedicated bench, or dedicated tree may be installed on town park…
Read full rule →York County
Significant RestrictionsYork County keeps an official Historical and Architectural Inventory of significant sites, structures and landmarks…
Read full rule →Greenville County
Some RestrictionsGreenville County's Historic Preservation Commission designates real property as historic and certifies rehabilitation…
Read full rule →Greenwood County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Greenwood County can map land as an H-1 historic resources district to preserve sites, structures and…
Read full rule →Laurens County
Some RestrictionsLaurens County offers rehabilitated historic properties a special tax assessment under Sec. 20-31 through Sec. 20-34…
Read full rule →Pickens County
Some RestrictionsPickens County Council grants a special property tax assessment to owners who rehabilitate an eligible historic…
Read full rule →Charleston
Light RestrictionsCharleston regulates historical monuments, markers and plaques through the Commission on History, an advisory city…
Read full rule →Darlington County
Light RestrictionsUnder Darlington County Code § 58-124, county council can grant a property at least 50 years old a Historic Designation…
Read full rule →Florence County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Florence County has no standalone historic-landmark designation ordinance. Protection comes only through…
Read full rule →Orangeburg County
Light RestrictionsOrangeburg County grants a multi-year special property tax assessment to historic properties that complete a certified…
Read full rule →Richland County
Light RestrictionsRichland County offers a 20-year special tax assessment to owners who rehabilitate a certified historic property…
Read full rule →Sumter County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Sumter County preserves historic sites through a nine-member County Historical Commission created under…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Few RestrictionsIn unincorporated Lancaster County, historical markers and monuments are handled by the county's Historical Commission…
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