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Beachfront Jurisdictional Area

South Carolina’s beachfront jurisdictional area is made up of three Beachfront critical areas, Beach/Dune System, Beaches, and Coastal Waters, which are defined in South Carolina Code of Laws §48-39-10. SCDES BCM has authority to review activities within all of these critical areas.

Proposed activities within any of the state’s beachfront critical areas should be coordinated with SCDES BCM to determine if authorization is required. Staff are available to assist citizens in understanding the beachfront jurisdiction and the authorization process associated with property-specific activities.

Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines

S.C. Code Ann. § 48-39-280 requires the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Bureau of Coastal Management (SCDES BCM or Department) to establish and periodically review two beachfront jurisdictional lines, the baseline and the setback line. The baseline is the more seaward (towards the ocean) line, while the setback line is the more landward (towards the land) line. The setback line delineates the landward extent of the state’s direct permitting authority for activities proposed within the Beach/Dune System Critical Area.  

The jurisdictional lines create a state jurisdictional area where activities associated with habitable structures, pools, erosion control structures, renourishment, landscaping, fencing, decks, service lines, and other alterations are reviewed to determine if authorization is required to prevent unwise development and to protect resources along the beachfront. Repairs, reconstruction, and new construction of some structures are allowed under certain conditions and with proper notification to the Department as listed under S.C. Code Ann. § 48-39 and S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 30. The jurisdictional lines enable SCDES BCM to implement laws and regulations that support the state's beachfront management goals, and protect vulnerable shorelines, properties, and natural ecosystems. 

Please be aware that there may be critical areas landward of the jurisdictional setback line that may also require authorization and coordination with SCDES BCM. For questions, please reach out to SCDES BCM’s Beachfront Management section at (843) 953-0200, or visit the Project Manager Finder Application to find contact information for SCDES BCM project managers by geographic area.

Jurisdictional Lines Review Process

South Carolina law requires SCDES BCM to establish and review the position of these beachfront jurisdictional lines every 7 to 10 years. The average annual erosion rate for all oceanfront land that is developed or potentially could be developed is also reviewed during this time frame. 

Using historical and present-day shoreline and beach profile information, SCDES BCM designates a baseline and setback line along the coast. The setback line's distance from the baseline is determined by calculating the long-term annual erosion rate in that particular area. The minimum setback distance is 20 feet. 

For additional information about the technical process associated with establishing the lines, please visit our Jurisdictional Lines Review Technical Process page.

2024-2027 Jurisdictional Lines Review - Going on Now

On January 30, 2024, SCDES BCM released a tentative schedule for establishment of the new beachfront jurisdictional lines on our website. The current tentative schedule for line establishment and adoption is below. This line review will be a phased effort that will occur between 2024 and 2027. There will be many opportunities for public education and engagement. Please refer to this webpage for the latest updates and information.

Phases for JLR 2024-2027

Public Education and Engagement

To assist property owners, local governments, and other interested parties in understanding the state’s jurisdictional line review process, beachfront critical areas, and authorization requirements, SCDES BCM has developed a Beachfront Educational Campaign. This effort will utilize a variety of methods to reach a broad and diverse audience including digital products, print materials, social media, as well as in-person and virtual information sharing opportunities. In-person and virtual town hall-style informational meetings and public hearings are listed below.

Please be aware that no new lines are available at this time. Proposed Phase 1 Lines are anticipated to be available on October 13th, 2025.

These meetings were held to provide information on the line review process.

Wednesday, May 8th from 4:30-6:30pm 
Town of Hilton Head Island Hall 
1 Town Center Ct Hilton Head Island, SC

Thursday, May 16th from 4:30-6:30pm  
St. Helena Branch Library  
6355 Jonathan Francis Sr Rd. St Helena Island, SC 

Virtual Option 
May 22nd 12:00pm-2:00pm 
Link to Register > CLOSED

Public Hearing - Phase 1
Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 6:00pm
Open House Session at 5:00pm
Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center
310 Okatie Highway
Okatie, SC 29909

The SC Department of Environmental Services Bureau of Coastal Management will hold an in-person public hearing on the proposed beachfront jurisdictional lines (baseline and setback line) for Phase 1 beaches (Daufuskie Island, Hilton Head Island, Bay Point Island, St. Phillips Island, Little Capers Island, Pritchards Island, Fripp Island, Hunting Island, Harbor Island) Prior to the public hearing, the Department will host an open house session from 5-6pm to meet with attendees one-on-one and answer questions. The Department will give a presentation at 6pm, followed by public comment. Proposed baseline and setback lines can be viewed at https://gis.des.sc.gov/shoreline/  

Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Viewer

To assist property owners in understanding the location of the jurisdictional lines on their property or an area in which they are interested, SCDES BCM developed the Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Viewer. This viewer illustrates the approximate locations of the jurisdictional baseline and setback line. Please note that to determine the exact position of the baseline and setback line for a specific property, coordinates must be obtained by downloading data from the Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Viewer and a property-specific survey must be performed. Coordinates can also be obtained by calling SCDES BCM at (843) 953-0200.

Survey packets with coordinates are available through SCDES BCM’s Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Viewer. There is a single survey packet for each beach, which contains the coordinates for the baseline and setback lines. This survey packet also contains a PDF file of the beachfront survey monuments that are maintained by SCDES BCM. Please be aware that the coordinates provided in the spreadsheets may not be in order north to south; users should download and utilize the full spreadsheet to ensure that no coordinates along the baseline or setback line are missed. 
 
Coordinate system
The baseline and setback lines are in State Plane NAD83 (2011). 
The beachfront survey monuments are in State Plane NAD83 (2011) International feet.

Contact

SCDES BCM staff are available to answer questions about the beachfront jurisdictional lines. Please contact SCDES BCM at (843) 953-0200.

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