Burn bans in South Carolina

No county-level burn ban is currently reported by South Carolina Forestry Commission for South Carolina. Municipal rules within a county may still apply.

South Carolina has three overlapping layers. The State Forester can declare a Burning Ban — statewide or for named counties — that prohibits all open burning, including campfires, bonfires, and other recreational fires (non-recreational fires for warmth or immediate food preparation are exempt). The Governor can declare a separate Governor's Burning Ban. Counties can additionally declare their own emergency burn ordinances under a special-purpose or public-service district.

Bans are issued by county officials and typically stay in effect until conditions improve or the order expires. Some counties set explicit expiration dates; others leave a ban open-ended until lifted. Check each county's page for the expiration listed on the current order.

Violating a State Forester's Burning Ban is a misdemeanor under S.C. Code § 48-35-60: a first offense carries a fine of up to $200 or up to 30 days in jail; a second offense within ten years carries a fine of at least $500 and up to 60 days, or both, at the court's discretion. A county emergency burn ordinance violation carries the same first-offense range (up to $200 or 30 days) under S.C. Code § 6-11-105.