The timeline and requirements for each jurisdictional line establishment cycle are outlined in the South Carolina Code of Laws. State law requires SCDES BCM to stagger the establishment of the baselines and setback lines by geographic area. To meet this requirement, the line review for the South Carolina coast has been divided into three geographic areas, and the review will occur in a phased effort (Phase I, II, and III) between 2024-2027. 

SCDES BCM is also required to provide a tentative schedule of establishment for each geographic area on the Department's website at least 120 days prior to beginning a new establishment cycle. On January 30, 2024, SCDES BCM released a tentative schedule for establishment of the new beachfront jurisdictional lines on the SCDES BCM Jurisdictional Lines webpage.  

Once baselines and setback lines are proposed for a geographic area, SCDES BCM is required to publish the proposed lines on the Department's website for public input at least 120 days prior to final establishment of the lines for the geographic area. To meet this requirement, proposed lines are available for review on SCDES BCM's Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Viewer. The Department is also required to provide notice of the publication of the proposed lines in a newspaper of general statewide circulation and a newspaper of local circulation in the geographic area. The Department fulfilled this requirement through notice in The Post and Courier, as well as local newspapers for each geographic area. 

Following publication of the proposed lines, a public hearing is held (within each geographic area) at least 90 days prior to final establishment of the lines. The Department will accept and review data up to 30 days prior to the final establishment of the lines to determine if a proposed baseline or setback line should be revised. Once the jurisdictional lines are adopted as final, this line report will be updated, and final versions of the lines will be available on SCDES BCM's Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Viewer. 

Procedures for establishing the baseline are outlined in the South Carolina Code of Laws and Coastal Division Regulations. In 2016, Act 197 amended S.C. Code Ann. § 48-39-280, prohibiting the baseline from moving seaward from the position determined on December 31, 2017. This means that the baseline and setback line will not move seaward from their locations established during the 2016-2018 line review cycle.  

To establish the baseline position, the shoreline must first be classified as an inlet erosion zone or a standard erosion zone. An inlet erosion zone is defined as a segment of shoreline along or adjacent to tidal inlets which is influenced directly by the inlet and its associated shoals. Inlet zone classifications are further defined as either unstabilized, or stabilized by jetties, terminal groins, or other structures. All other areas are considered standard erosion zones, defined as a segment of shoreline which is subject to essentially the same set of coastal processes, has a fairly constant range of profiles and sediment characteristics, and is not influenced directly by tidal inlets or associated inlet shoals. 

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In stabilized inlet erosion zones and standard erosion zones, the baseline is established at the location of the crest of the primary oceanfront sand dune. The primary oceanfront sand dune is defined as a dune with a minimum height of 36 inches, as measured vertically from the seaward toe to the crest of the dune. The dune must also form a nearly continuous ridge for 500 shore parallel feet and may exhibit minimal breaks, such as those resulting from pedestrian or emergency vehicle access points. If the primary oceanfront sand dune is more than 200 feet landward of the current line of stable vegetation, then the baseline must be established seaward of the primary oceanfront sand dune at a distance equal to thirty percent of the measured distance from the primary oceanfront sand dune to the current line of stable vegetation. If there is no primary oceanfront sand dune, then the baseline must be established at whichever is further landward of the following: the baseline established during the 2016-2018 review cycle or the landward edge of the active beach. The Department utilizes the best available scientific data including both field and remotely sensed data to identify and establish the location of primary oceanfront sand dune. Remotely sensed data includes LiDAR and aerial imagery. Field data includes beach topographic and bathymetric profiles, and dune measurements, which are used in conjunction with remotely sensed data.  

If the shoreline has been altered naturally or artificially by the construction of erosion control devices, then the baseline must be established by the department using the best scientific and historical data, as where the crest of the primary oceanfront sand dune for that zone would be located if the shoreline had not been altered. The Department evaluates natural dunes in the area using remotely sensed and/or field collected data to determine the location of the primary oceanfront sand dune.  

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In unstabilized inlet erosion zones, the baseline is established at the most landward point of erosion at any time during the past 40 years, unless the best-available scientific and historical data of the inlet and adjacent beaches indicate that the shoreline is unlikely to return to its former position. This baseline position is established by analyzing current and historical data created from aerial photographs, topographic maps, and/or field collected data, and identifying the most landward point of erosion and/or shoreline during the 40 year timeframe.