Zoning
Zoning is an important tool for the Town in shaping growth and development. It supports the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan. Zoning is designed to protect property values and guide the development of town in a unified community vision. Zoning prevents incompatible land uses from popping up in inappropriate areas. For instance, a factory doesn't belong in a neighborhood and a house shouldn't be built in an industrial park!
Zoning districts are a community's classifications of areas which outline appropriate land uses and standards. Standards include building height, setbacks [distances from property lines], signs, and buffers between uses to name a few. There are multiple zoning districts in the Town of Cheraw. The Official Zoning Map serves as the geographic representation of Zoning Districts. A copy of the official zoning map may be viewed in the document center below.
Zoning Districts are regulated by the which may be found in the document center below.
There are three main commissions associated with Zoning; the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Board of Architectural Review (BAR).
For more information on the BAR, please visit our page on Historic Preservation by clicking here.
The Planning Commission helps guide policy in the Town. Their main role is to:
- Review, amend, and approve ordinances.
- Hear and deliberate on rezoning applications.
- Recommend the adoption of the comprehensive plan and other plans
- Influence the Capital Improvement Plan.
- Hear and deliberate on plat appeals.
The current Planning Commission is composed of:
- Delphenia Rollins, Chair
- Blake Tillman, Vice Chair
- Justin Willcox
- John Little
- Mark Ingram
- Rennay Johnson
- JD Wentz
If you would like to request a property be rezoned, the application is available from the document center below.
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a quasi-judicial body that makes decisions based on evidence of fact. Appeals of decisions by the Zoning Administrator, Special Exceptions, and Variances are all decided by the BZA.
A Special Exception is a development that first must be approved in a specific zoning district. For instance, there are residential districts you may build a duplex in, but first you must get approval from the BZA to ensure that its construction will not harm surrounding property owners.
A Variance can be granted where the strict application of the Cheraw Zoning Ordinance would effectively prohibit or limit the use of a property.
Applications for Appeals, Variances, and Special Exceptions can be found in the document center below.
For more information please contact Rob Wolfe at Town Hall, 843-537-7283 or rwolfe@cheraw.com

Document Center
The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category
Zoning Documents11 documents
- Zoning Ordinance 2022 The up to date Cheraw Zoning Ordinance
- Zoning Map Updated to 2022
- Zoning Compliance Application A zoning compliance request must be completed to receive a business license.
- Sign Permit Application A sign permit is required prior to the erection of any sign in the Town of Cheraw.
- Zoning Application A Zoning Application is required to request a re-zoning in the Town of Cheraw
- Zoning Verification Application This document is used to request to zoning verification for a property.
- Accessory Structure Letter of Use Acknowledgement
- Short Term Rental Acknowledgement This form is required to obtain a business license for a short term rental.
- Special Exception Application Certain uses require obtaining a Special Exception from the Cheraw Board of Zoning Appeals
- Variance Application A variance may be obtained from the Board of Zoning Appeals under certain conditions.
- Appeal of Action from the Zoning Administrator