Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Travelers Rest’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the corporate limits of the City of Travelers Rest, as designated on the official Zoning Map.

  • The ordinance applies within current and future corporate limits as designated on the official Zoning Map.
  • Annexed territory requires the zoning-classification and public-hearing procedures stated in Article 2.

  “The regulations set forth in this Ordinance shall be applicable within the corporate limits of the City of Travelers Rest, now or hereafter, as designated on the official Zoning Map.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Travel or camping trailers parked or stored on lots in any residential district inside Travelers Rest.

  • The restriction applies while the trailer is parked or stored.
  • The stated exception is an authorized manufactured home park.
  • Only one travel or camping trailer per family living on the premises is otherwise permitted on a residential lot.

  travel or camping trailers permitted per family: 1 trailer (Trailer may not be occupied while parked or stored, except in an authorized manufactured home park.)

  “Not more than one (1) travel or camping trailer, per family living on the premises, shall be permitted on a lot in any residential district; and the trailer shall not be occupied temporarily or permanently while it is parked or stored, except in an authorized manufactured home park.”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Temporary occupancy of a travel or camping trailer parked or stored on a residential-district lot inside Travelers Rest.

  • The stated exception is an authorized manufactured home park.
  • The provision addresses travel or camping trailers and does not establish a rule for every form of temporary camping.

  “Not more than one (1) travel or camping trailer, per family living on the premises, shall be permitted on a lot in any residential district; and the trailer shall not be occupied temporarily or permanently while it is parked or stored, except in an authorized manufactured home park.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes used residentially inside Travelers Rest.

  • Residential manufactured homes are permitted only in the R-MHP district and only in a manufactured-home park.
  • A Board of Zoning Appeals temporary authorization outside a manufactured-home park cannot be for residential purposes.

  “Notwithstanding any other provision of law as to lot size, set-back lines, building height, square footage, and construction requirements, no manufactured home shall meet the requirements of "Permitted Use" or "Special Exceptions": for any zoning district in the City, except for R-MHP and then only if such manufactured home is in a manufactured home park.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units in all single-family residential districts inside Travelers Rest.

  • The lot must contain one single-family detached structure.
  • Only one accessory dwelling unit is permitted per single-family detached dwelling.
  • The property owner must maintain a permanent residence in the primary or secondary structure.
  • The accessory dwelling unit must be governed by the International Building Code.
  • Parking and dimensional limits in Section 6:22 apply.

  detached ADU maximum area: <= 50 percent of primary dwelling floor area · detached ADU maximum height: <= 20 feet · attached ADU maximum area: <= 70 percent of primary dwelling floor area (Also may not exceed 1,000 square feet.)

  “The following standards apply to accessory dwelling units located in all single family residential districts and comply with Article 6 Section 6:20. A. An accessory dwelling unit shall be located only on a residential lot containing one single-family detached structure. The residential lot may contain other accessory structures as provided in this ordinance. B. Only one accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted per single -family detached dwelling.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning variance or appeal applications inside Travelers Rest.

  • The fee covers necessary administrative costs.
  • The fee applies to each variance or appeal application paid to the City Clerk.

  variance or appeal application fee: 100 USD (Per application.)

  “A fee of one-hundred (100) dollars shall be paid to the City Clerk for each application for a variance or appeal to cover the necessary administrative costs.”

• Permit processPartial

  Temporary uses and structures inside Travelers Rest.

  • All temporary uses and structures must meet the general requirements unless otherwise specified in Section 6:20.
  • The use must not harm surrounding property, public health, safety, or welfare; must not substantially adversely affect nearby residences; and permanent site alterations are prohibited.
  • All otherwise applicable permits and inspections must be issued and approved.

  “All temporary uses and structures shall meet the following general requirements, unless otherwise specified in this section. A. All temporary uses shall obtain a temporary use permit. B. The temporary use shall not be detrimental to property or improvements in the surrounding area or to the public health, safety, or general welfare.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Travelers Rest or Greenville County directly.

• Building permit — New residential construction inside Travelers Rest city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing residences inside Travelers Rest city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Travelers Rest city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inspections for buildings inside Travelers Rest city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new residential buildings inside Travelers Rest city limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Travelers Rest means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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