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Lexington County

Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning

In short

Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning issues 4 permits we publish for Lexington County, last verified 2026-10-19. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Zoning Permit for a Nonresidential Land Use Activity (unincorporated Lexington County)Lexington County Community Development Department, ZoningZoning Permit, Nonresidential: $106.00 per acre (or portion), per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026. Related items on the same schedule: Zoning Compliance Review $46.00; Zoning Variance Request (Nonresidential) $382.00; Zoning Special Exception Request $382.00; Zoning Appeal $228.00; Stop Work Order Release $269.00.effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions while the permit's obligations are met (Zoning Ordinance §171.10); a new owner or transfer of ownership needs a new permit2026-10-19
Home Occupation Permit (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, Zoning$90 per permitas for a zoning permit: effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions (Zoning Ordinance §171.10)2026-10-19
Sign Permit (Zoning, unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, ZoningSign Permit: Business $90.00; Temporary $190.00, per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026.per sign; a term is not stated in the Zoning Ordinance or the fee schedule2026-10-19
Landscape Permit for Nonresidential Development (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, ZoningLandscape Permit, Nonresidential: $106.00 per acre (or portion), per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026. Landscape Variance Request $382.00; Landscape Appeal $228.00; Stop Work Order Release $269.00.effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions while the permit's obligations are met (Landscape and Open Space Ordinance §1.3.1)2026-10-19

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Zoning Permit for a Nonresidential Land Use Activity (unincorporated Lexington County)

Zoning Ordinance §171.10 provides: "No building, structure, sign, or tract of land within the zoned area of the County shall be used, constructed, or developed until the issuance of a valid zoning permit," and "A new zoning permit is required for a new owner or transfer of ownership of a land use activity." Under §171.20 no building, structure, sign or activity may continue, be used or be occupied until the Zoning Administrator has indicated compliance with the Ordinance, and §171.30 assesses a fee established by County Council for every permit application. The county's Zoning page lists what needs a zoning permit: new construction, changes to existing structures, site improvement, a change in activity at the property, new tenants, new signs or sign modifications, and home based businesses. As to scope, the Zoning FAQ states that "The Lexington County Zoning Ordinance only pertains to unincorporated areas of the County. Municipalities have jurisdiction within their own city/town limits." A permit is effective for two years from approval, and five one-year extensions are granted while its obligations continue to be met (§171.10). Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, a nonresidential zoning permit is $106.00 per acre (or portion). For food trucks, §21.21(s) states that "Mobile food trucks that provide a temporary service are allowed at existing non-residential developments, provided the location is within the parameters of the development or for on-site construction activities. Food trucks located at a permanent location or food truck courts must meet applicable requirements for a Food Services activity." For retail, §21.21(t) allows exterior display of goods as an accessory to the principal retail activity, with goods kept within an enclosed structure or building overnight. The county's FAQ answers the business license question by pointing to this permit; see the jurisdiction notes.

Home Occupation Permit (unincorporated Lexington County)

Zoning Ordinance §21.22 defines a home occupation as a business-type activity of a nonresidential nature based or performed within a dwelling unit or a residential accessory structure; the owner/operator must reside at the residence, and "Home occupations shall require zoning permits in addition to those of their residential principal activities." A home occupation may not occupy more than 25 percent of the dwelling's total floor area and in no event more than 750 square feet, and it may not include "the manufacture or repair of transportation related equipment", the temporary storage of vehicles for sale, or "animal impoundment activities (kennel)", so an auto repair shop does not qualify. Without a Board of Zoning Appeals variance, a home occupation may not have exterior displays, outdoor storage, hazardous equipment, non-residential structural alterations, excess traffic, a non-resident employee, or "Teaching of more than six pupils simultaneously", which limits home fitness instruction. Regular care of more than six individuals, counting those who live at the site, needs a special exception, and no special exception may be granted for home occupation day care of more than 12; a day care home is not held to the floor-area limits. Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, the Home Occupation Permit is $90.00. The county's application form (Application for a Zoning – Home Occupation Permit) still labels the rule "21.21 Home Occupations"; the current ordinance numbers it §21.22. State licenses for salons, child care and contractors are separate state records.

Sign Permit (Zoning, unincorporated Lexington County)

Zoning Ordinance §26.11 states: "Zoning permits are required for the following temporary and permanent signs: portable or moveable signs; off-premise subdivision/development signs; freestanding business signs, including changeable copy signs, commercial center signs and electronic message boards; canopy signs; residential/commercial/industrial subdivision and development signs; wall signs; high rise building signs; and advertising signs." Under §171.10, sign permits for on-site land use activities are not issued until a valid zoning permit or other zoning approval has been issued for the associated activity. The county's Application for Sign Review (revised 6/14/2019) requires two copies of a site plan drawn to an engineering scale and two copies of plans for wall or building signs, and states: "Signs should not be erected, installed, or replaced prior to obtaining a valid zoning sign permit." Under §26.12 signs comply with the County's Building Code and no sign may be installed within a 10-foot radius of any overhead electrical conductor; signs along Scenic Corridors may face stricter limits. Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, a business sign permit is $90.00 and a temporary sign permit is $190.00.

Landscape Permit for Nonresidential Development (unincorporated Lexington County)

Section 1.3 of the Lexington County Landscape and Open Space Ordinance applies its regulations to residential attached dwelling units, mobile home parks, residential subdivisions "and all nonresidential development within the unincorporated area of Lexington County", except public road or utility construction, agricultural operations (their processing, transport, warehousing and retail areas remain covered), advertising signs, most mail kiosks, and temporary construction, grading, storage and parking activities incidental to developing a principal activity. Under §1.3.1 any building, structure or tract of land is used, constructed or developed only in accordance with the Ordinance, and "A landscape permit shall be effective for two years from the date of the approval", with five one-year extensions while the permit's obligations continue to be met. County Code §14-271 requires a valid landscape permit, where applicable, before a building permit for construction or alteration. Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, a nonresidential landscape permit is $106.00 per acre (or portion), a landscape variance request $382.00 and a landscape appeal $228.00. A new restaurant, shop, studio, clinic or garage built in the unincorporated county is nonresidential development within §1.3.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Lexington County
Phone
(803) 785-8121

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Application for a Zoning – Home Occupation PermitLexington County Community Development Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  2. Application for Sign Review (Revised 6/14/2019)Lexington County Community Development Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  3. Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026Lexington County Community Development Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  4. Fees & OrdinancesCounty of Lexington, South Carolina · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  5. Lexington County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Article V, Division 5. - PermitsLexington County Council (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  6. Lexington County Landscape and Open Space OrdinanceLexington County Council · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  7. Lexington County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance 26-03, June 23, 2026 edition)Lexington County Council · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  8. ZoningCounty of Lexington, South Carolina · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19
  9. Zoning FAQsCounty of Lexington, South Carolina · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-19

Other offices serving Lexington County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

South Carolina jurisdictions

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