Beaufort County, SC Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Beaufort County's street-tree spacing standard sits in Section 5.8.30.E.2.a of the Community Development Code's landscaping division: "All planted trees shall maintain a minimum distance of four feet from the curb, sidewalk, and impervious pavement," with two exceptions: "Street Trees planted in a tree well or continuous planter, which may be sited a minimum distance of three feet from walkways, curbing, and other impervious pavements," and "Street trees planted in a continuous swale, which may be sited a minimum distance of four feet from walkways, curbing, and other impervious pavements." The same division bars any tree from encroaching within five feet of overhead power lines, street lights, or similar infrastructure at maturity, and Section 5.8.30.E.1.a separately forbids planting overstory trees where mature height and spread would come within five feet of a utility line.

The companion Thoroughfare Buffer standard, Section 5.8.50, applies "along all collector and arterial roads within all conventional zones, community preservation districts, T2 Rural, T2 Rural Low, and T2 Rural Neighborhood." Per 100 linear feet of frontage, a 2- or 3-lane thoroughfare requires 2 overstory trees, 7 understory trees, and 15 shrubs within a 20-foot buffer, while a road of 4 lanes or more requires 4 overstory trees, 14 understory trees, and 30 shrubs within a 50-foot buffer. Section 5.8.50.F protects what's already there: "No tree 6 inches DBH or larger shall be removed from any thoroughfare buffer," absent an access drive, required sight triangle, disease, or another safety issue approved by the Design Review Board or staff.