Planning Department
Contact Information
Planning Department
2020 Hampton Street 1st Floor
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 576-2190
Book an Appointment with Selected County Offices
Mission
The mission of the Department of Planning and Development Services is to create better communities in Richland County through a public planning process. This is accomplished by incorporating best practices for balancing environmental and economic concerns in County land use regulations, creating incentives for redeveloping sites, revitalizing communities and employing GIS illustrating data to make complex problems easier to understand.
Divisions and Programs
Comprehensive Planning
Neighborhood Planning
E-911 Addressing and Road Naming
Floodplain Management
Development Services
Boards and Commissions
Planning Commission
Board of Zoning Appeals
Zoning Public Hearings
2017 Meeting Dates
Land Development Code Rewrite
New Land Development Code Will Shape Growth for County's Future
View the Land Development Code as adopted on November 16, 2021. The LDC is anticipated to go into effect on May 2, 2022.
The process of developing a new Zoning Map is currently underway.
An interactive Zoning Viewer app is currently in development and will be accessible via this page once complete.
Through the newly adopted 2021 LDC, the older 2005 code will be replaced and repealed. This will require that every property in unincorporated Richland County will receive new zoning that falls under the newly adopted code. Read about and view the information on this page to learn more about the new Land Development Code and what zoning districts areas will be assigned.
The Zoning Map is tentatively scheduled to go before the Planning Commission at their March 7, 2022 meeting and County Council for 1st Reading at their ZPH on the 22 of March.
The text received 2nd Reading approval on October 19. The text received 1st Reading at County Council's Zoning Public Hearing meeting on September 28. An additional Public Hearing was held on the LDC Rewrite at Council's November 9 meeting.
View the Big Differences between the Old Code and New Code (LDC Rewrite Cheat Sheet).
Learn more about Zoning in Richland County through informational videos on the County's YouTube page.
Remapping Information Sessions
The County is holding community drop-in meetings to advise residents on how their property will be zoned under the 2021 LDC and what that entails. The meetings will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on:
- Tuesday, Jan. 18 at Blythewood Park, 126 Boney Road, Blythewood
- Wednesday, Jan. 19 at Parklane Adult Activity Center, 7494 Parklane Road, Columbia
- Monday, Jan. 24 at Cross Roads Community Center, 2750 McCords Ferry Road, Eastover
- Tuesday, Jan. 25 at Eastover Park, 1031 Main St, Eastover
- Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Bluff Road Park, 148 Carswell Drive, Columbia
- Thursday, Jan. 27 at Ballentine Community Center, 1053 Bird Road, Irmo
- Tuesday, Feb. 1 at Friarsgate Park, 1712 Chadford Road, Irmo
- Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Garners Ferry Adult Activity Center, 8620 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins
- Thursday, Feb. 3 at Gadsden Park Community Center, 1668 S. Goodwin Circle, Gadsden
- Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Hopkins Adult Activity Center, 144 Hopkins Park Road, Hopkins
- Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Killian Park, 1424 Marthan Road, Columbia
- Thursday, Feb. 10 at Meadowlake Park, 600 Beckman Road, Columbia
- Tuesday, Feb. 15 at New Castle-Trenholm Acres Community Center, 5819 Shakespeare Road, Columbia
- Wednesday, Feb. 16 at North Springs Community Center, 1320 Clemson Road, Columbia
- Thursday, Feb. 17 at Perrin-Thomas Park Community Center, 1030 Andrews Road, Columbia
- Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Pine Grove Community Center, 937 Piney Woods Road, Columbia
- Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Ridgewood Park Community Center, 805 Crest St., Columbia
- Thursday, Feb. 24 at Polo Road Park, 730 Polo Road, Columbia
- Tuesday, March 1 at St. Andrews Park, 920 Beatty Road, Columbia
- Wednesday, March 2 at Upper Richland Community Center, 280 Camp Ground Road, Columbia
Residents and property owners can also visit the Zoning office on the first floor of the County Administration Building, at 2020 Hampton St., Columbia, during business hours, or schedule a one-on-one meeting with a Zoning staff member about specific properties. Those with questions should email LandDevelopmentCode@richlandcountysc.gov or call 803-576-2190.
The purpose of the Rewrite is to develop 21st Century regulations that implement the County’s vision for where and how it grows, are user-friendly for all citizens, align with current best practices, allow for development in different contexts, provide for higher-quality development, and support a more sustainable Richland County.
The LDC is the adopted law of the county that regulates land use, growth, and development. It governs everything from the types of uses, location, and size of a development within various zones, as well as establishes the procedures for how development proposals are reviewed, including approvals and denials. The LDC also controls various development and subdivision standards such as parking, landscaping, signs, addressing, building form, and open space within a development, and the division and platting of land as well as road layout and other infrastructure requirements.
The current LDC was adopted in 2005, which included a major overhaul from the code established in 1977. The Code Rewrite will be a significant departure from the current LDC and will not simply be an update or provide revisions but institute an entirely new land development code. Major differences to expect include:
- More user-friendly
- User-friendliness consolidates and reorganizes the LDC structure; includes illustrations, diagrams, flowcharts, tables; uses down-to-earth language; and standardizes procedures for applications and submittals.
- Implements policies of PLAN Richland County
- Implementing Plan Richland provides a greater range and type of housing choice than historically possible; eases the ability to undertake infill, redevelopment, and investment for commercial properties; enables preservation and continuance of rural character and working lands with appropriate zoning; allows for more open space, better conservation of land, incentives for green practices; and allows for military operations to continue and avoid encroachments.
- Aligns zoning districts and uses with current best-practices
- New districts, new uses, and new use standards allow for development in different contexts versus a one-size-fits-all approach throughout all areas of the County
- Bring development standards into the 21st Century
- Through contemporary development standards, such as modernized parking standards, minimum open space requirements, design and form standards, the new code will help provide for quality development all County residents can agree upon and enhance the quality of development.
- More green and sustainable development
- Green development practices will help provide a more sustainable County and more sustainable development pattern that benefits all.
Community Planning & Development staff hosted engagement opportunities beginning in May on the Public Hearing Draft. These opportunities consisted of a variety of options for citizens and property owners to learn about the LDC text, including: in-person 1-on-1 meetings and virtual public forums hosted via Zoom. Recordings of the public forums can be found on the County’s YouTube.
While working to finalize the LDC text, staff is also in the process of developing the Zoning Map for the new code. Staff has been working to get a Zoning Map ready for the public to view but has needed a more complete code text in order to proceed. Now that the Public Hearing Draft is available, staff can begin finalizing the draft Zoning Map. More information on the Remapping process will be released as it continues forward.
Project Contacts
Questions, Concerns, Information?
Email LandDevelopmentCode@richlandcountysc.gov or call 803-576-2190.
Commercial Facade Improvement Program
Application Submittal Period is currently open lasts through June 1st, 2021 (late applications may still be accepted), or until all funds have been expended, whichever occurs first. Applications will be accepted and approved on a rolling basis.
The Richland County Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) has developed a Commercial Façade Improvement Program (CFIP) for the Broad River Road Corridor and Trenholm Acres and Newcastle Neighborhoods commercial areas to encourage businesses to improve the exterior appearance of their buildings, storefronts, and signage. This program provides up to $15,000 per activity in funds to finance exterior improvements to a property owner or tenant’s commercial building. The program is designed to retain and attract businesses, strengthen the commercial corridor, increase utilization of existing businesses, restore economic vitality, and enhance property values.
Funding
The program provides for a one-time maximum funding of $15,000 of County investment per improvement for businesses and properties. Eligible projects do not require a funding match, with the County providing 100% of possible funding up to $15,000.
Payment will be issued to approved vendors upon receiving invoices on business letterhead. Richland County will be responsible for all procurement processes. NIP shall pay the approved vendor directly on behalf of the applicant for eligible improvement expenses not exceeding the approved amount. The Commercial Façade Improvement Program funds shall not be applied retroactively to work started prior to the start of the program nor can it be applied to costs accrued as part of the application submittal process.
Applicant Eligibility and Requirements
Broad River Road Corridor
Eligibility for the program is for commercial businesses fronting Broad River Road from the 2200 block to the 3100 block (properties between the I-20 interchange and St. Andrews Road). The target area is within the Broad River Road Corridor and Community Master Plan, adopted by Richland County Council in 2010.
Trenholm Acres and Newcastle Neighborhoods
Eligibility for the program is for commercial businesses fronting Shakespeare Road from the 5500 block to the 6300 block (properties Fontaine Road and Humphrey Drive) and commercial businesses fronting Parklane Road from the 7300 block to the 7400 block (Moonglo Circle to I-20). The target area is within the Trenholm Acres/Newcastle Neighborhoods Master Plan, adopted by Richland County Council in 2010.
Applicants must be either the owner or tenant of a commercial, retail, or professional business/property with a current structure. If you are a tenant, a copy of the lease along with a Letter of Agency must be signed by the owner of the building with approval for exterior improvements to be completed. Applicants of multiple buildings/businesses may receive funding for more than one building/business, though they must complete separate applications for each. Likewise, all applicants must be currently registered and licensed with the Richland County Business Service Center with all County taxes up to date.
Eligible Improvements
The program allows for any combination of eligible improvement elements including, but not limited to:
- Exterior signs
- Exterior painting
- Parking lot resurfacing or repaving
- Outdoor lighting upgrade or installation
- Security features upgrade or installation
- General façade work
Materials and Documents
Broad River Road
Trenholm Acres and Newcastle Neighborhoods
Contact Information
Project Manager - Matthew Smith
Email - nip@richlandcountysc.gov
Phone - 803-576-2190