Tree Protection in South Carolina (2026)
24 rules on the books across South Carolina, 12 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Heritage & Protected Trees
Extra protections for old, large, or historically significant trees, including the penalties for removing them without approval.
Dorchester County
Heavy RestrictionsDorchester County protects Grand trees, its heritage class: any tree 24 inches DBH or larger, including pine. Grand…
Read full rule →Aiken County
Significant RestrictionsAiken County gives its largest trees, oaks, pines and magnolias over 24 inches in diameter, a higher protection tier…
Read full rule →Beaufort County
Significant RestrictionsBeaufort County's Community Development Code protects "grand trees," exceptionally large trees of a given species such…
Read full rule →Charleston
Significant RestrictionsCharleston protects any 'grand tree,' defined as 24 inches or more in diameter at breast height (excluding pines and…
Read full rule →Columbia
Significant RestrictionsColumbia has no separate "heritage tree" list; instead its Unified Development Ordinance singles out "grand trees" for…
Read full rule →North Charleston
Significant RestrictionsNorth Charleston reserves its toughest tree protection for 'grand trees,' healthy trees 24 inches or more in diameter…
Read full rule →Rock Hill
Significant RestrictionsRock Hill's Zoning Ordinance protects canopy trees over 32 inches in diameter at breast height (10 inches for…
Read full rule →Lexington County
Some RestrictionsLexington County Code § 14-142(c) requires new residential subdivisions to survey for 'trophy trees' before design and…
Read full rule →York County
Some RestrictionsYork County protects "grand trees," its version of heritage trees, on land being developed under Land Development Code…
Read full rule →Greenville County
Few RestrictionsGreenville County doesn't stop a landowner from removing a heritage or historic tree: the definition in its tree…
Read full rule →Protected Tree Species
Specific native species (oak, sycamore, walnut, juniper) protected by city ordinance, diameter thresholds, removal permits, and replacement ratios.
Charleston
Significant RestrictionsCharleston's zoning code protects two tiers of trees by trunk diameter: any grand tree of 24 inches or more, excluding…
Read full rule →Beaufort County
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County's Community Development Code defines a "specimen tree" by species and trunk diameter, from 4-inch…
Read full rule →Columbia
Some RestrictionsColumbia's Unified Development Ordinance defines a "protected tree" at Sec. 17-5.4(c)(1) as any grand tree, any tree…
Read full rule →Dorchester County
Some RestrictionsDorchester County protects trees by size, not just species: any Significant Tree (12 to 24 inches in diameter…
Read full rule →Greenville County
Some RestrictionsGreenville County's tree ordinance singles out Heritage (Historic) Trees and Specimen Trees for extra protection on…
Read full rule →Horry County
Some RestrictionsHorry County protects 25 native tree species by name, from bald cypress and live oak to pecan and sycamore, once they…
Read full rule →Parkway Planting
Permits and rules for planting in the parkway strip between sidewalk and curb, including approved species lists and Bureau of Street Services standards.
Beaufort County
Some RestrictionsStreet trees along Beaufort County roads must clear the curb and sidewalk by three to four feet depending on planting…
Read full rule →Charleston
Some RestrictionsNo shade or ornamental tree or shrub may go into a Charleston public right-of-way or easement without the Department of…
Read full rule →Columbia
Some RestrictionsNew subdivisions in Columbia must plant one street tree for every 40 linear feet of lot frontage, set within a planting…
Read full rule →Dorchester County
Some RestrictionsCluster subdivisions in Dorchester County must plant a canopy street tree every 50 feet on average down the center of…
Read full rule →Florence County
Some RestrictionsNew subdivisions in unincorporated Florence County must plant a street tree in the public right-of-way for every lot…
Read full rule →Horry County
Some RestrictionsNon-residential, multifamily, townhome and in-common residential projects fronting any road on Horry County's Table 1…
Read full rule →Rock Hill
Some RestrictionsRock Hill's Zoning Ordinance requires street trees along new and extended roads in non-residential and multi-family…
Read full rule →York County
Light RestrictionsYork County does not require street trees in single-family subdivisions, but if a developer plants them, § 154.094 sets…
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