SCDES BCM’s Critical Area Permitting Section reviews proposed alterations to the Coastal Waters and Tidelands critical areas to ensure they are consistent with the SC Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Act, SC Coastal Division Regulations, and the policies of the South Carolina Coastal Management Program. Any person wishing to alter a critical area must receive authorization from BCM.
Activities within the coastal waters and tidelands critical areas that are reviewed by the Critical Area Permitting Section include but are not limited to: docks, bulkheads, revetments, marinas, mooring fields, boat ramps, living shorelines, mariculture, water treatment systems, piers, cables, pipelines, transmission lines, dredging, and access to coastal islands.
Based on the type of proposed activity, different types of permits are administered for the alteration of coastal waters and tidelands critical areas including Individual Critical Area Permits for Minor Activities, Individual Critical Area Permits for Major Activities, and General Critical Area Permits.
The Critical Area Permitting Section also reviews permit change requests, including Permit Amendments and Permit Extensions & Transfers.
The Critical Area Permitting Section reviews service requests, including but not limited to Critical Area Line Certifications and Maintenance & Repairs.
