South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 30 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL- COASTAL DIVISION
Below is a detailed, updated overview of South Carolina Code of Regulations – Chapter 30: DHEC Coastal Division, based on the official state PDF and Cornell LII listing:
🌊 Scope & Authority
Chapter 30 governs the Coastal Division of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Its mandate stems from the 1977 Coastal Zone Management Act, amended in 1993 to fold the Coastal Council into DHEC-OCRM. These regulations (30‑1 through 30‑21) shape policy, permitting, enforcement, and coastal management for critical shoreline areas (scstatehouse.gov).
📚 Table of Contents
Based on resources from LII and Justia, Chapter 30 includes:
§ 30‑1 – Statement of Policy
§ 30‑2 – Applying for a Permit
§ 30‑3 – Public Hearings
§ 30‑4 – Decisions on a Permit
§ 30‑5 – Exceptions
§ 30‑6 – Appeals of Permit Decisions
§ 30‑8 – Enforcement
§ 30‑9 – Other Provisions
§ 30‑10 – Critical Area Boundaries
§ 30‑11 – General Guidelines for All Critical Areas
§ 30‑12 – Standards for Tidelands & Coastal Waters
§ 30‑13 – Standards for Beaches & Dune Systems
§ 30‑14 – Administrative Procedures
§ 30‑15 – Activities Seaward of Baseline
§ 30‑16 – Documentation Requirements
§ 30‑17 – General Permits
§ 30‑18 – Beach Restoration Fund
§ 30‑21 – Beachfront Management Plan (law.cornell.edu)
🔍 Selected Highlights
§ 30‑1: Statement of Policy
Emphasizes protection of critical habitats—tidelands, marshes, beaches, dunes—and sustainable development.
Cautions against hard erosion control; supports managed retreat, renourishment, and strategic setbacks (des.sc.gov, scstatehouse.gov).
§ 30‑10: Critical Area Boundaries
Defines “coastal waters” (tidally influenced saline waters to high-water mark) and “tidelands” (areas at or below mean high tide and coastal wetlands) (law.cornell.edu).
Beaches and dune systems are also under DHEC’s regulatory reach, guided by statutory setback provisions (law.cornell.edu).
§ 30‑12: Tidelands & Coastal Waters Standards
Sets distinct standards for various dock types—private, joint-use, master-planned, commercial, community docks—providing tailored guidelines per category (casetext.com).
§ 30‑18: Beach Restoration Fund
Establishes the 1988‑era fund (from a $10 million bond bill) to support nourishment and restoration projects, subject to coastal management plan criteria and permitting (scstatehouse.gov).
§ 30‑21: Beachfront Management Plan
Requires a comprehensive long-term plan including dune/beach profiling stations, erosion monitoring, public access, emergency response, retreat policy, and local-plan integration (scstatehouse.gov).
🛠️ How It Operates
Permitting Process (§ 30‑2 to § 30‑6): Covers applications, hearings, decisions, exceptions, and appeals.
Enforcement (§ 30‑8): Enables inspections, violation notifications, and enforcement actions.
Administrative Procedures (§ 30‑14 to § 30‑17): Defines protocols for activities beyond baselines, required documentation, and general permits (e.g., dock additions, soil borings).
Emphasis: Integrates both environmental protection and public access, balancing ecology and coastal development.
📌 Purpose & Impact
Chapter 30 operationalizes the Coastal Zone Management Act, extending DHEC’s authority over four “critical areas”: coastal waters, tidelands, beaches, and dunes. It ensures sustainable shoreline use by:
Enforcing consistent, science-based permitting
Promoting retreat over permanent erosion defenses
Protecting wildlife, public access, and natural habitats
Facilitating beach restoration and long-term monitoring (law.cornell.edu, des.sc.gov, coast.noaa.gov, des.sc.gov, scstatehouse.gov)
✅ Resources & Next Steps
Access full text via the official state PDF (turn0search0).
Cornell LII and Justia provide navigable versions current through Mar 28, 2025 (regulations.justia.com).
SC DHEC’s site offers guidance on critical area permitting, including categories of permits, which include general, minor, and major activities in coastal zones (des.sc.gov).
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