Lancaster Zoning Map & Districts 2026
Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Lancaster County, SC. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.
Zoning Districts in Lancaster County
Common zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction. Exact district names and codes may vary.
A district in which the principal uses of the land are restricted due to lack of available utilities, unsuitable soil types, steep slopes, or for the protection of prime agricultural lands.
A district where the principal use of the land is for large rural living tracts with an abundance of open space, agricultural lands, and a high degree of separation between buildings.
Established to protect the residential character of communities and neighborhoods in the rural area at a density of 1.0 dwelling unit per acre; promotes rural living, protects farmland, and maintains low density residential.
Established for rural crossroads that represent small nodes of commercial activity along rural highways, accommodating small-scale businesses such as gas stations, convenience stores, or restaurants serving daily needs of the surrounding rural population.
Accommodates manufactured homes in a variety of settings, including manufactured home parks, manufactured home subdivisions, and a single-lot mobile home district.
Established to maintain previously developed or approved single-family residential subdivisions and related facilities at a density of 1.5 dwelling units per acre; acts as a transitional district between rural living and urban development.
Established to maintain previously developed or approved single-family residential subdivisions and related facilities at a density of 2.5 dwelling units per acre; acts as a transitional district between rural and urban development.
Generally located adjacent to neighborhoods and provides opportunities for the provision of office and professional services that do not adversely impact the surrounding communities.
Generally located on thoroughfares and provides opportunities for neighborhood services that serve as an acceptable transition to generally auto-dependent neighborhoods.
Generally located on thoroughfares and provides opportunities for offices, services, and retail goods in proximity to auto-dependent, community neighborhoods; intended to accommodate existing auto-oriented development while encouraging transition to pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use areas.
Generally located on major thoroughfares and provides opportunities for offices, services, and retail goods to meet the surrounding region; accommodates the auto-oriented pattern of existing development until the transportation network is retrofitted for more urban patterns.
Intended to allow for the continued and future use, expansion, and new development of academic and religious campuses, governmental and health facilities, and public and private utility infrastructure while minimizing adverse impacts on neighboring residential areas.
Established to preserve and protect environmentally sensitive lands (e.g. floodways, wetlands) and properties already under public ownership or otherwise restricted for passive or active recreational use.
Established for activities that can be operated in a relatively clean and quiet manner and that will not be obnoxious to adjacent residential or business districts, including warehousing and wholesaling with limited public contact; designed to prohibit most heavy industry.
Established to accommodate industrial, manufacturing, or large-scale utility operations that may create some nuisance and are not compatible with residential, commercial, and service establishments.
Established for large-scale operations that extract and process mineral materials; may create nuisance not properly associated with residential, commercial, and service establishments.
Established to accommodate a variety of housing types in a neighborhood setting at a density of 4 dwelling units per acre for those desiring urban-sized, relatively high density neighborhoods within walking or biking distance from mixed-use centers.
Established to serve as a transitional district between rural and urban developments at a density of 8.0 dwelling units per acre, providing for multiple-family residential dwellings while discouraging detrimental effects to adjacent single-family areas.
Intended to provide mixed-use transitional areas immediately adjacent to or in close proximity of mixed-use centers that permit some limited commercial uses and a wide variety of housing types in pedestrian-scaled, residential-style structures.
A pedestrian-scaled, mixed-use district catering to the everyday needs of nearby neighborhoods; accommodates community-scale commercial, residential, office, and civic uses in vertically mixed-use and free-standing buildings, with retail at street level.
Established to promote mixed-use environments supported by artists, craftsman, and cultural activities, often in transitional areas previously occupied by industrial development; accommodates limited commercial, institutional, some light industrial, and a wide variety of residential uses.
Recent Rezoning Activity in Lancaster County
Explore Zoning Topics in Lancaster County
Frequently Asked Questions
The official Lancaster zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://lancogis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4f82c966bdbc4913a8fafaeaa89e3998. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.
Common zoning districts in Lancaster County include residential (R-1, R-2, R-3), commercial (C-1, C-2), industrial (I-1, I-2), mixed-use (MU), and planned development (PD). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements.
ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Lancaster County to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.
Lancaster County's Zoning Office administers the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) as adopted by Lancaster County Council. The same office also administers the Town of Heath Springs Ordinance and the Town of Kershaw Ordinance. Zoning staff assist the public with information on the uses and development of land in the county, and the county maintains an Official Zoning Map for reference.
According to the county's Planning Commission page, the Planning Commission meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Lancaster County Council Chambers at 101 N. Main Street, 2nd floor, in Lancaster. The Commission carries out a continuing planning program for the county and reviews matters such as rezonings, conditional use permits, preliminary plats/major subdivisions, development agreements, and text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance.
The Planning Commission is made up of 7 members appointed by Lancaster County Council, with one representative from each of the 7 County Council districts. The Commission's role is to guide the physical, social, and economic growth, development, and redevelopment of Lancaster County.
The Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals hears applications for variances and special exceptions, as well as appeals from decisions of the Planning and Zoning staff. The Planning Department provides administrative support to the Board.
Lancaster County's growth is guided by the Lancaster 2040 Comprehensive Plan, along with the Southern Panhandle Small Area Plan referenced by the Planning Department. The Planning Department is responsible for writing the regulations that govern development within its jurisdiction and provides technical support to County Council and the public in preparing for future growth.
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