South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

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

• Public Notices
• Coastal Management Program
• Coastal Permitting & Compliance
• Enforcement
• Estuary Management
• Beachfront Management
• Ocean Management
• Coastal Hazards
• Coastal Planning
• Coastal Water Quality
• Products & Services
• Contact

Critical Area and Wetland Permitting

The critical area is defined as tidelands, coastal waters and the beach/sand dunes system. OCRM staff determines this jurisdictional boundary and is referred to as the "critical line". A permit is required from OCRM prior to any alteration to the critical areas of South Carolina. These activities can include docks, bulkheads, boat ramps or other alterations such as filling or dredging.

The permit application is a straightforward document explaining the requirements and information that must be submitted to OCRM. In most cases an administrative fee is required as a part of the permitting process. Fees range from $50 to $1000. The applications are placed on public notice for 10, 15, or 30 days, depending on the activity. This time frame allows for other agencies and members of the public to review and comment on the project.

New: Change in Submission Procedure for All Critical Area Permit Applications (07/16/10)

New: For Projects with federally defined non-jurisdictional wetland impacts:

SCDHEC-OCRM Wetland Staff encourages applicants with projects that have potential impacts to federally defined non-jurisdictional wetlands to meet with staff prior to submittal of projects to ensure proposals are including adequate information concerning feasible alternatives, avoidance and minimization as a part of their analysis of their proposed project. This information will help streamline the review process and ensure timely review and action on these proposal. Please contact Jeff Thompson at (843) 953-0219 for assistance.

New: Critical Area Permit Application Procedure - Administrative Completeness (08/22/08)

Questions? Contact DHEC-OCRM or check the Frequently Asked Questions for Critical Area Permitting.

Download Forms

• Critical Area Permit Application (DHEC 3898)
• Request to Amend a Critical Area Permit (DHEC 3897)
• Request for Maintenance and Repair Authorization (DHEC 3899)
• Permit Assignment/Transfer Form (DHEC 3900)
• Request to Extend a Critical Area Permit (DHEC 3901)
  • Permit Extension Guidelines
  • Permit Extension Joint Resolution of 2010 (H.4445 of 2010) - November 26, 2010
• Critical Area Line Setting Request (DHEC 3902)
• Construction Placard Request Form (DHEC 3911)
• General Permit Application (DHEC 3903)

Resources

• New: Nationwide Permits for 401 Water Quality Certification (Updated 05/08/2012)
• Permit Extension Joint Resolution of 2010 (H.4445 of 2010) - November 26, 2010
• Critical Area Permitting Regulations (04/25/08)
• Drawing Requirements for Critical Area Permit Applications (pdf) (07/14/06)
• Attorney General requirement of proof of ownership for coastal islands (pdf) (Updated 11/10/06)
• The South Carolina Coastal Management Program, Regulations and Policies
• Critical Area and Wetland Permitting Staff by Region (pdf) (10/17/11)
• Frequently Asked Questions for Critical Area Permitting
• Building a Dock in the South Carolina Lowcountry (pdf)

Notice

The following public notice submittal deadlines apply to all State and Federal permits and applications for funding assistance requiring a coastal zone consistency determination except for joint permit applications from both DHEC-OCRM and the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE). Joint permit applications requiring a Critical Area permit and a ACOE permit will be processed as a joint public notice. The joint public notice will be coordinated to run with the ACOE's public notice if the application is administratively complete.  DHEC-OCRM must receive submittals for weekly public notice associated with a coastal zone consistency determination and Critical Area permits by Monday close of business. The submittal must be deemed complete for notice by staff to be considered for public notice the following Friday. Submittals received after Monday close of business are subject to being placed on public notice the following week even if the submittal is deemed complete by staff.  If the permit application or funding assistance application is not complete, staff will notify the applicant of the deficiencies within 10 working days from the DHEC-OCRM receipt date.

Permit Appeal Procedure

Once DHEC-OCRM staff makes a decision regarding a permit application, an adversely affected party may request a final review with the Board of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to challenge the permit decision. A request for final review must be made to the Clerk of the Board within 15 days after notice of the decision has been mailed to the applicant. An adversely affected party may be the applicant, an adjacent property owner, or in some cases a third party or organization.