COLUMBIA – Richland County’s newly revised Land Development Code (LDC), the result of a years-long process to prepare for future growth and development, took effect last Friday.
Richland County’s Geographic Information Systems Division has developed an interactive app viewer that shows zoning information for a specific area. The viewer, along with other information, can be accessed via the updated Land Development Code webpage.
Following a work session, a public hearing and two readings by County Council, councilmembers approved text amendments to the LDC last Nov. 14. Council first adopt a new zoning map before it considered new text amendments recommended by the County’s Planning Commission. Richland County’s proposed zoning map passed on third reading Oct. 3.
People with questions on the rewritten LDC can email [email protected] or call the County’s Planning Department: 803-576-2190.
What the LDC Does
The LDC and its accompanying zoning map are adopted County ordinances that regulate land use, growth and development outside of incorporated cities and towns. They govern the types of uses, location and size of developments within various zones, as well as establishing procedures for how development proposals are reviewed. The LDC also controls various development and subdivision standards such as parking, landscaping, signs, addressing building form and open space within a development, the division, and platting of land.
As Richland County adapts to changes in technology, lifestyles and economic conditions, corresponding changes will be made to the LDC to assure that development occurs in a logical and planned fashion.
Planning for the Future
In South Carolina, all land development codes must have two parts: written rules and a zoning map. Before the rules and map are adopted, however, the community must create and adopt a community master plan or comprehensive plan, according to state code.
The County last updated its Comprehensive Plan in 2015, and the 10-year statutory revision date is 2025. Richland County anticipates starting the Comprehensive Plan revision process later this year and will continue until a revision is adopted in 2025.
Find Comprehensive Plan information at richlandcountysc.gov.
