South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

We promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.

• Critical Area & Wetland Permitting
• Stormwater Permitting & Certification
• Beachfront Development

Beachfront Development

DHEC is responsible for the management of South Carolina's beaches and the beach/dune system. Using historic shoreline and present-day profile information, DHEC designates a baseline and setback line along the coast. The baseline is typically placed at the crest of the primary sand dune (that is the dune immediately adjacent to the ocean) while the setback line is demarcated landward of the baseline. The setback line's distance from the baseline varies along the coast. It is determined by the annual erosion rate in that particular area. The minimum setback is 20 feet. The baseline and setback lines are revised every 10 years as required by the South Carolina Coastal Zone Management Act. DHEC is currently reviewing baseline and setback line positions during the 2008-2010 cycle.

All construction seaward of the setback line requires an authorization or permit from OCRM. Many activities are authorized by DHEC with General Permits. Contact DHEC to see what permits will be required for your proposed construction.

Questions? Contact DHEC or check the Frequently Asked Questions for Beachfront Property .

Beach Survey Packets & Jurisdictional Line Maps

OCRM beachfront baseline and setback line surveyor packets and accompanying DWG files are available for download. Beach survey packets contain beachfront baseline and setback line coordinates, long-term erosion rate information, and beach survey benchmark description sheets.  DWG files are spatial representations of surveyed coordinates.  Surveyor packet coordinates and DWG files are in South Carolina State Plane NAD83 – International Feet.  Survey packets are in Adobe PDF format.  DWG files can be viewed with most CAD and GIS software. IMPORTANT NOTE: DWG FILES SHOULD BE USED FOR REFERENCE ONLY.  PLEASE REFER TO THE SURVEYED COORDINATE PACKETS FOR ABSOLUTE POSITION.

Note: (*) symbol indicates no DWG file available; only survey packet.

Once adopted, state beachfront jurisdictional line maps are available for review at DHEC-OCRM offices or by downloading individual maps via this website.

Notification Requirement

The 1990 Beachfront Management Act requires OCRM to be notified of certain activities seaward of the 40 year setback line. Such activities include new construction, additions and renovation of habitable structures as well as construction and replacement of pools landward of baseline and erosion control device.

Use the form below to inform OCRM of any such activity:

• Beachfront Notification Form (DHEC 3896) (pdf)