The Coastal Zone Consistency (CZC) Section reviews necessary federal and state permit activities within the eight coastal counties.  

Federal

Because South Carolina's Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP) is federally-approved, a number of Federal Agency activities and permits are required to comply with the enforceable policies of the state's approved coastal management program. This "Federal Consistency" authority resides under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act (FCZMA) which was enacted on October 27, 1972, to encourage coastal states to develop comprehensive programs to manage and balance competing uses of and impacts to state's coastal resources or the uses of them.  

The FCZMA applies to any Federal Agency activity that is undertaken in the state's coastal zone that may reasonably affect any coastal resource or use within the coastal zone (even if the activity occurs outside of the coastal zone) if the Federal Agency activities consist of the following: 

• South Carolina’s Listed Federal Actions

State

The coastal zone consistency review is triggered when an applicant submits for one (or multiple) state permits to alter land.  

How to Apply for a Coastal Zone Consistency Certification Request

For state and federal reviews, a request for certification must be submitted to the SCDES BCM Coastal Zone Consistency Section through the regulatory platform, ePermitting.  These requests will be submitted to SCDES BCM through either the BCM Federal Coastal Zone Consistency Certification Request form or the BCM State Coastal Zone Consistency Certification Request form. Transfers of ownership and amendments should also use these forms.

How to Aid the shortest review time possible for a Coastal Zone Consistency Certification Request  

Incoming CZC Certification Requests will undergo an administrative review for completeness to ensure the Department has the information and documentation necessary to place the project on a 10-day public notice and assign to a CZC PM for their review of consistency with the enforceable policies and certification.   

The coastal zone consistency section has to coordinate with a number of state and federal agencies during the project review period. To ensure the fastest review of a CZC Certification Request please see the specific permit activity webpage above.