For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
The word “SHALL” is always mandatory.
The word “MAY” is permissive.
The word “LOT” includes the words “PLOT” or “PARCEL”.
The word “STRUCTURE” includes the word “BUILDING”.
The word “PERSON” includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, or corporation as well as an individual.
“DEVELOPER.” Any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity developing land within the jurisdiction of this chapter. This term is synonymous with the term applicant.
“DEVELOPMENT.” The changing of land characteristics through redevelopment, construction, subdivision into parcels, condominium complexes, commercial parks, shopping centers, industrial parks, manufactured home parks, and similar developments for sale, lease, or any combination of owner and rental characteristics.
“DRAINAGE.” The removal of surface water or groundwater from land by drains, grading or other means.
“DRAINAGE FACILITY.” Any component of the drainage system.
“DRAINAGE SYSTEM.” The system through which water flows from the land, including all water courses, water bodies and wetlands.
“DRIVEWAY.” A paved or unpaved area used for ingress or egress of vehicles, and allowing access from a street to a building or other structure or facility.
“EASEMENT.” A right-of-way granted, but not dedicated, for limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public purpose and within which the owner of the property shall not erect any permanent structures.
“ESCROW.” A deed, a bond, money, or a piece of property delivered to a third person to be delivered by him or her to the grantee only upon fulfillment of a condition.
“FINAL PLAT.” The final map of all or a portion of a subdivision which is presented for final approval.
“GREENWAY.” A linear open space established along a natural corridor, such as a river, stream, ridgeline, rail-trail, canal, or other route for conservation, recreation, and shared-use alternative transportation purposes such as pedestrians and cyclists.
“GUTTER.” A shallow channel usually set along a curb or the pavement edge of a road for purposes of catching and carrying off runoff water.
“IMPROVEMENT.” Any man-made, immovable item which becomes part of, placed upon, or is affixed to real estate.
“INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM.” A septic tank, seepage tile sewage disposal system, or any other approved sewage treatment device serving a single unit.
“STREET.” Any vehicular way which: (1) is an existing state, county or municipal roadway; or (2) is shown upon a plat approved pursuant to law; or (3) is approved by other official action; or (4) is shown on a plat duly filed and recorded in the office of the Clerk of Court prior to the appointment of a Planning Commission and the grant to said Commission of the power to review plats; and includes the land between the street lines, whether improved or unimproved.
“ALLEY.” A public or private street primarily designed to serve as secondary access to the side or rear of those properties whose principal frontage is on some other street.
“ARTERIAL.” A public vehicular way designed to move large volumes of traffic from one point to another.
“COLLECTOR.” A public vehicular way which filters traffic from local streets and conducts it to arterial streets or local traffic generators such as schools, recreation areas, and public parks.
“CUL-DE-SAC.” A local street with only one outlet and having the other end for the reversal of traffic movement.
“EXPRESSWAY.” A public vehicular way with limited access that could have both at-grade intersections and grade separated interchanges.
“LOCAL (MINOR).” A public or private vehicular way designed to provide access to property abutting the right-of-way.
“PRIVATE.” A vehicular way not dedicated for public use or maintenance.
“SUBDIVIDER.” Any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity subdividing land within the jurisdiction of this chapter. This term is synonymous with the term developer.
“SUBDIVISION.” All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease, or building development, and includes all division of land involving a new street or a change in existing streets and includes re-subdivision which would involve the further division or relocation of lot lines or any lot or lots within a subdivision previously made and approved or recorded according to law; or, the alteration of any streets or the establishment of any new streets within any subdivision previously made and approved or recorded according to law.
“SUBDIVISION, EXEMPT.” An exempt subdivision is one which meets the following conditions:
(1) Involves the division of land into parcels of five acres or more where no new street is involved; or
(2) Includes the combination or recombination of portions of previously platted lots where the total number of lots is not increased and the resultant lots are equal to the standards of this chapter and other applicable regulations.
(3) A subdivision involving cemetery lots.
“SUBDIVISION, MAJOR.” A major subdivision is any subdivision other than an exempt or minor subdivision.
“SUBDIVISION, MINOR.” A minor subdivision is one which does not involve any of the following: (a) the creation of more than a total of five lots; (b) the creation of any new streets; (c) the extension of public water or sewer lines; or (d) the installation of drainage improvements through one or more lots to serve one or more other lots.
“SUBDIVISION, MINOR, FLAG-SHAPED LOT.” An irregular-shaped lot which is created by the subdivision of the rear section of an existing residential lot. The flag section of this new irregular-shaped lot shall be the larger section on which a future single-family residence may be constructed and is located to the rear of the original reduced lot. The pole section of this new irregular-shaped lot shall be the means of access connecting the flag section to the city street or right-of-way, title to which must be conveyed by general warranty deed.
“SURVEYOR.” A person who is registered by the South Carolina State Board of Engineering Examiners to practice land surveying in South Carolina.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord., passed 1-25-94; Am. Ord. 05-014, passed 7-12-05; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 10-036, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 2016-015, passed 10-11-16; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24)