This Ordinance is hereby adopted under the authority and provisions of the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994, as amended.

After careful review of the existing development and development patterns in Abbeville County, the Planning Commission recommended that regulations concerning health, safety, use, and aesthetics be implemented to protect the residents of the County. The purpose of this Ordinance is to: 1) provide regulations necessary to facilitate safe and orderly growth; 2) ensure that growth becomes an integral part of the community and existing developments; and 3) promote civic awareness and responsibility and enhance the quality of life for the entire County. In addition, the Ordinance works to ensure the greatest possible economic and social benefits for all residents, as described in the Comprehensive Plan.

Following the provisions of the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994, the zoning ordinance has been drafted with consideration for the following:

1.

To provide for adequate light, air, and open space;

2.

To prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population, and to lessen congestion in the streets;

3.

To facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community;

4.

To protect and preserve scenic, historic, or ecologically sensitive areas;

5.

To regulate the density and distribution of populations and the uses of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, agriculture, forestry, conservation, airports and approaches thereto, water supply, sanitation, protection against floods, public activities, and other purposes;

6.

To facilitate the adequate provision or availability of transportation, police and fire protection, water, sewer, parks and other recreational facilities, affordable housing, disaster evacuation, and other public services and requirements;

7.

To protect from fire, flood, and other damages; and

8.

To further the public welfare in any other regard specified by a local governing body.

This Ordinance is officially titled as "Abbeville County Zoning Ordinance," and shall be known as the "Zoning Ordinance." The official map designating the various zoning districts shall be titled, "Abbeville County Official Zoning Map," and shall be known as the "Zoning Map."

These regulations govern the development and use of all land and structures within the unincorporated boundaries of Abbeville County.

The boundaries of the zoning districts are shown on a map or series of maps entitled "Official Zoning Map, Abbeville, South Carolina" which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Ordinance. The "Official Zoning Map" will continue to be used "as is" until such time as the County has converted to a GIS mapping system. All changes to the existing maps and the future GIS system zoning identification will be made by the County Planner. Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Map, which may from time to time be published, the Official Zoning Map, which shall be located in the County Planning Office, shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the County.

Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following rules apply:

(a)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines or right-of-way lines of streets, highways, alleys, railways, or public utility easements shall be construed to follow such lines;

(b)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot or tract lines shall be construed as following such lines, whether public or private;

(c)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following incorporated area or county limit lines, or special district lines, as amended from time to time, shall be construed to follow such lines;

(d)

Boundaries indicated to approximately follow topography elevations shall be construed to follow such elevations;

(e)

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center, Mean High Water Mark, or shoreline of streams, rivers, canals, lakes, or other bodies of water, flood plains or low lands, shall be construed to follow such boundaries;

(f)

Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in the sections above shall be so construed. When distances are not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map, or in other circumstances not covered above, the Zoning Administrator shall interpret the boundaries, to be determined in part by the scale of the map.

Should any portion of this Ordinance be found illegal by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the Ordinance shall remain in effect.

These regulations shall become effective on

The Abbeville County zoning jurisdiction area is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:

Whenever the regulations of this Ordinance require more restrictive standards than are required in or under any other statutes, the requirements of this Ordinance shall govern. Whenever the provisions of any other statute require more restrictive standards than are required by this Ordinance, the provisions of such statute will govern.

All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are superseded and repealed to the extent necessary to give this Ordinance full force and effect.