• ZONING DISTRICT APPROVAL: the project must be located in the proper zoning district and have access to a street that allows the requested activity. This approval is obtained from the zoning administrator. Zoning restrictions are then determined for the specific location/district. If the project can meet the zoning requirements, the approval process can continue. If not, the developer could initiate requests for variances.

NOTE: if the project is currently located in the county, but is contiguous to the town’s boundary and needs to be annexed, annexation procedures must be initiated. Plans can be submitted to the town and approved during the annexation process but no permits can be issued until the property is annexed. The annexation request is submitted to the Director of Economic Development. The request will then be submitted to the planning commission for a zoning recommendation to council. Council will annex the property and assign zoning. Anticipated time to annex is 60 days. For annexations contact Brad Cunningham @ 803-951-2232.

Once the project has received zoning district approval and can meet all zoning restrictions, the project must either be approved by the zoning administrator or planning commission. The Zoning Administrator can approve a single project such as a single business/unit on one lot without a subdivision of property. The Zoning Administrator is Joe Boles @803- 951-4655.

A copy of the zoning ordinance can be obtained from www.lexsc.com.

• PLANNING COMMISSION: the project must receive planning commission approval if any of the following pertains:

• Multiple businesses/units in one building.
• Multiple businesses/units on one lot.
• Subdivision/division of property.
• Subdivision plats for recording.

The following Planning Commission fees will be required:

• TRADITIONAL SUBDIVISION PROCESSING FEE SCHEDULE:

1. SKETCH PLAN: $50

2. PRELIMINARY PLAT: NUMBER OF LOTS FEES

• $50

6+ $50 + $10 PER LOT ABOVE 5 LOTS

(MAX = $2,000)

• FINAL/BONDED/AS BUILT PLATS = 0

• GROUP DEVELOPMENT FEE SCHEDULE:

1. SKETCH PLAN: $50

2. PRELIMINARY PLAT:

• RESIDENTIAL GROUP DEVELOPMENT:

NUMBER OF UNITS: FEES:

ALL DEVELOPMENTS $50 + $10 PER UNIT (MAX $2,000)

• COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT:

$50 FOR THE FIRST 5,000 SQUARE FEET + $10 PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OR FRACTION, NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.

3. FINAL/BONDED/AS BUILT PLATS: = 0

• NOTES: the Planning Commission meets at 8:00 am on the first Wednesday after the third Monday of the month. The meeting is held in the town hall court room. The meeting is broadcast live on the town’s TV information channel. Information to be presented must be received at least one week prior to the meeting in order for the staff to prepare an agenda and to meet the public notification requirements. The zoning administrator will schedule and publish the agenda.

Sketch plan approval is necessary to proceed with the project. Preliminary plat approval allows construction to begin. Anticipated time for both sketch and preliminary plat approval is 60 days.

All plats to be recorded in the deeds office must be approved and signed by the Planning Commission.

A copy of the land development ordinance and traffic impact study can be obtained from www.lexsc.com.

3. PERMITS: before any permits can be issued, all plans must be approved and fees determined and paid. The

contractor is normally responsible for the zoning fee, building permit fee and town business license. Permits are required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building or structure or the installation of electrical, gas, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, or similar equipment, or for infrastructure, grading or paving. Such permit shall be granted only upon the satisfactory review of plans and specifications to insure compliance with the all federal, state and local laws. Since it takes some time for the State Fire Marshal to approve sprinkler plans, we can issue the building permit before sprinkler approval. Also, the County Fire Inspection Department has a tremendous workload. We will normally issue the permit before their fire review is completed, however, this does all fire issues should be resolved prior to the rough-in inspection,

A. LANDSCAPING: on all projects except an individual single family dwelling lot, some trees are protected. To determine which trees have to be protected, a tree survey must be made. Provisions must be made to protect the protected trees before a permit can be issued. Before conducting a tree survey contact the Director of Parks, streets and Sanitation, Dan Walker at 359-1027.

• Three (3) sets of landscaping plans must be submitted. (for variances see 1 above.)
• The landscaping plan must be approved by the Director, Dan Walker before a permit can be issued.
• A copy of the landscaping ordinance can be obtained from www.lexsc.com.
• Landscaping review fee is $55.
• Underground utilities are required.

NOTE: While trees are not normally protected in residential subdivision developments on a lot per lot basis, a percentage of trees in the required open spaces are protected. See landscaping ordinance.

• OTHER PLANS REQUIRED:

1. Seven (7)copies of engineering site plans.

2. 3 sets of building plans (one of the three will be submitted by us to the county fire marshal).

3. Two sets of storm water and soil erosion plans

4. One set of utility plans.

5. Sprinkler plans (if required) must be submitted to the state for approval and one set to us

for the county fire marshal review.

6. For commercial kitchens, fire hood plans must be submitted to us for approval by the county fire marshal.

• Utilities Department : (Rosemarie Nuzzo- 951-4646)
• Storm water/soil erosion approval. Fee ranges from $74 to $1,150.
• Utility plan approval. Fee ranges from $74 to $1,150.
• Sidewalk fee. Fee varies based on 5 foot sidewalk to meet ADA requirements. Residential subdivisions are excluded as they will actually install their sidewalks.
• Water meter fee. Based on size and number of meters.
• Irrigation meter. Based on the size of the meter.
• Fire line tap fee.
• DRP (DHEC) review fee. $200
• Water and sewer contribution fees are based on projected amount of water usage using DHEC guidelines. In town contribution fees based on 300 gallons per day usage are currently $900 for water and $1,300 for sewer.
• Fire Hydrant Fee.

• BUILDING & ZONING DEPARTMENT. Margie Jeffcoat @ 356-5938
• Reviews site layout to insure zoning setbacks and all other zoning requirements are met. $20 fee.
• Building permit fees are as follows:

• Call for current code information.
• 2003 International Building Code.
• 2003 International Fire Code.
• 2003 International Plumbing Code.
• 2003 International Mechanical Code.
• *2000 International Gas Code.
• *2000 International Residential Code with amendments.
• 2005 NEC.

* 2003 IRC AND IGC Effective 1 Jul 05.

• Flood plain approval. A copy of the flood plain ordinance is available at www.lexsc.com.
• Building plan approval.

• FINANCE DEPARTMENT: License official is Sonya Lee @ 951-4631.

1. License fees are as follows :

• ADDITIONAL APPROVALS REQUIRED BEFORE PERMITTING ARE:
• DHEC approval on soil & erosion
• Road access by the owner of the road.

• SIGNS: Signs are a different issue and must be dealt with separately. Signs are approved by the building department. Contact is Margie Jeffcoat @ 356-5938. A copy of the sign ordinance can be obtained at www.lexsc.com.

• Most of the Town’s ordinances are available on our web site at www.lexsc.com or at town hall for a nominal fee.

• BURNING: the Town has a no burning ordinance. Burning is allowed in winter if the building contractor has a burn barrel and is used for warmth. No toxic material can be burned. The clearing contractor can burn trees and brush only under the following conditions:

(1). A pit and blower system is used.

(2). The pit and blower must be inspected by the Engineering Department.

(3). Burning is not allowed on Saturday or Sunday.

(4). The developer gets a burn permit daily from the engineering

department.

• Only dry material can be burned.
• Burning is allowed by DHEC.
• The developer gets a burn permit from the fire district.

• NOISE. The Town has a construction noise ordinance. Work can be performed between the hours of 6 am to 10 pm daily. Contact the Zoning Administrator for details

• K. ADDRESS: The Building Department will assign the address in accordance with the established Lexington County 911 procedures.

4. VARIANCE

• If zoning, landscaping and sign requirements cannot be met, the developer/owner may apply for a variance. An application fee is required and the application must be received by the first Monday of the month in order for the Board to meet the first Thursday of the following month. The Board of zoning appeals meets in the Town Hall Court Room at 6:30 PM on the first Thursday of the month if required. The application fee is $150 for the first variance request plus $50 for each additional request with a maximum fee of $300.

• In order to qualify for a variance all of the following stipulations must be met:

• There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property in question because of its size, shape or topography,
• These conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity,
• Because of the conditions, the application of the Ordinance to a particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property,
• The authorization of a variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by granting of the variance.

NOTE: Other issues affecting findings of the Board in a variance application can be found in the Zoning Ordinance.

In order to comply with State Law in making a public notice of the hearing, we must notify adjacent property owners in writing of the request, place a notice in a local newspaper and on our TV information channel, and post the property.

5. Property Zoning Change. The application for a property zoning change must be submitted by the last Monday of any month to meet the following schedule: 1) Planning Commission meeting on the following month for recommendation to Council. 2) Public Hearing and First reading by Council on the first Monday on the month following the Planning Commissions meeting. 3) Final Reading by Council on the first Monday of the month following the first reading. Council meetings are normally held on the first Monday of the month unless that Monday is a holiday: then on Tuesday. The Planning Commission meetings are held as stated in 2C. Notification procedures are as stated in 4C.

FEE SUMMARY: As a minimum, the following fees will be required:

Sidewalk fee: see 3C3.

• Utility Plan Review Fee: see 3C2
• Erosion Control Fees: see 3C1.
• Water meter fee based on size of meter.
• Water and Sewer Contribution fees: see 3C8.
• Sewer connection inspection fee is $75..
• Landscaping Review Fee: See 3A4.
• Zoning Fee: See 3D1.
• Building Permit Fee: based on construction costs: see 3D2.
• Town License Fee: based on construction costs: See 3E1.

There may be other costs to include:

• DRP fee: see 3C7.
• Fire line tap fee: see 3C6.
• Irrigation meter
• DHEC review fees.
• Costs to get water and sewer to the property.
• Planning Commission fees: see 2A&B.
• Fees not included in this list?
• Fire hydrant flow test.
• Fire Hydrant Fee.

NOTE: Signs are not included in the fee lists above. Signs are a separate issue.

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