SC Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines

Shoreline change
How to view shoreline change rates
Shoreline change rates, also known as long-term erosion rates (LTER), are available through this web application. To view a rate for a segment of shoreline, select a beach, then zoom in on the property of interest. Using your mouse, hover over the setback line until you see a hand icon. Using the hand icon, click on the setback line closest to the property of interest. A dialog box will pop up with two items: 1.) the beach name, and 2.) the shoreline change rate.
What do these rates mean?
If the rate is negative, that means that the long-term shoreline change rate is erosional. If the rate is positive, that means that the long-term shoreline change rate is accretional. Keep in mind that areas with negative (erosional) long-term rates may experience periods of accretion, and areas with positive (accretional) long-term rates may experience periods of erosion. These rates reflect long term trends (1800s to present day), rather than shorter term fluctuations. Shoreline change rates are determined by analyzing historic and modern shoreline positions from the 1800s to present day. Using a digital tool, the long-term change rates (aka long-term erosion rates (LTER)) are calculated. There are short segments that have ‘N/A’ as the rate; these are transitional areas. If the property of interest is in one of these areas, click on the setback line to the north and south; the rate associated with the segment in closest proximity to the property would apply. For more information on how these rates were calculated, download the line report for the beach of interest.
Important Note
The setback distance from the baseline is usually established by multiplying the shoreline change rate (or long-term erosion rate (LTER)) by 40, with a minimum setback distance of 20 feet. However, for the 2016-2018 establishment cycle (current lines), the setback was established by Act 173. Therefore, the setback distance may not reflect the true shoreline change rate value and there may be areas with a setback distance of less than 20 feet.
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SC Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Help


South Carolina Code of Laws §48-39-280 requires SCDES BCM to establish and periodically review two beachfront jurisdictional lines - the baseline and the setback line - which delineate the extent of the state’s direct permitting authority for activities proposed within the beach/dune system critical area. The baseline is the more seaward (towards the ocean) line, while the setback line is the landward (towards the land) line. The jurisdictional lines enable SCDES BCM to implement laws and regulations that support the state's beachfront management goals and protect vulnerable shorelines and natural ecosystems within this critical area.


The jurisdictional lines create a state jurisdictional area for the beach/dune system critical area, where activities associated with habitable structures, pools, erosion control structures, renourishment, landscaping, fencing, decks, service lines, and others are reviewed through authorization and permitting processes. Repairs, reconstruction, and new construction are allowed under certain conditions and with authorization by SCDES BCM.


It is important to be aware that in addition to the beach/dune system critical area, there are two other beachfront critical areas in South Carolina, beaches and coastal waters, in which SCDES BCM has authority to review activities. Please be aware that there may be critical areas landward of the jurisdictional setback line that may also require authorization and coordination with SCDES BCM. For questions, please reach out to SCDES BCM’s Beachfront Management section at (843) 953-0200, or visit the Project Manager Finder Application to find contact information for SCDES BCM project managers by geographic area.



Important Notes:

  • Folly Beach is exempt from the State's Setback Jurisdiction. Current jurisdiction information is available on the map interface and data is available for download, but there are no changes to the Folly Beach jurisdiction,at this time.

  • Jurisdictional lines and basemap imagery are provided for reference purposes only. In order to determine the exact position of jurisdictional lines for a given property, coordinates must be downloaded and a property-specific survey must be performed.

  • The aerial imagery featured in this application is provided by ESRI® as part of their Imagery Hybrid basemap service. Aerial imagery featured in this service is periodically updated by ESRI® as new imagery becomes available (similar to the way in which Google® or Bing® maps are updated). A change in aerial imagery may appear as a shift in the position of the jurisdictional lines due to the angle of the aerial photography. However, the coordinates of the current jurisdictional baseline and setback line have not changed since they were established during the 2016-2018 line review cycle.

  • For additional information on beachfront jurisdiction, please visit the State Beachfront Jurisdiction page.



Baseline Information

When clicking on the Baseline, the pop-up dialog box will contain three items: the beach name, the source year, and the beach zone. All locations will have a beach name and the beach zone. Only unstabilized inlet zones will have a source year. In unstabilized inlet zones, the baseline is set at the most landward point of erosion at any time during the past forty 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. In unstabilized inlet zones, the year will indicate which shoreline was used to set the baseline. If you are reviewing an unstabilized inlet zone, and the year is listed as 'N/A', this means that the baseline in this location was set by Act 173 of 2018, and was placed on the 2008-2012 baseline.

Setback Line Information

When clicking on the setback line, the pop-up dialog box will contain two items: the beach name and the shoreline change rate (also known as the long-term erosion rate (LTER)). If this rate is negative, that means that the long-term shoreline change rate is erosional. If this rate is positive, that means that the long-term shoreline change rate is accretional. Keep in mind that areas with negative (erosional) long-term rates may experience periods of accretion, and areas with positive (accretional) long-term rates may experience period of erosion. These rates reflect long term trends (1800s to present day), rather than shorter term fluctuations. Shoreline change rates are determined by analyzing historic and modern shoreline positions from the 1800s to present day. Using a digital tool, the long-term change rates (aka long-term erosion rates (LTER)) are calculated. There are short segments that have ‘N/A’ as the rate; these are transitional areas. If the property of interest is in one of these areas, click on the setback line to the north and south; the rate associated with the segment in closest proximity to the property would apply.

How To Use This Application

There are 3 ways to begin a search:

1. Use the ‘Select a Beach’ dropdown.

2. Select one of the blue and white ‘Beach’ points.

3. Use the Search button on the upper left side of the map to search by parcel ID or address.

Tools and Search Options

Parcel & Address Search

1. Address Search - Enter the address and city name and click the "Search" button. The applicaton geocodes (calculates the approximate location) and zooms to that location. If the address is not in a designated beach area, an alert appears.
2. Parcel Search - Enter the parcel number of the location you're interested in and click the small "Search" button. Parcel locations are only available for the immediate coastal areas. This function requires an exact match to locate the parcel. The complete parcel number is required, with no spaces ( ), dashes (-), or periods (.).

Legend

The Legend tool allows the user to understand what features on the map represent. The legend appears on the lower panel of the application. It can be scrolled horizontally for use on smaller screens.

Popup Window

The "popup" window is "on" by default when zoomed into a beach area. The "popup" window is used to display important fields or information about a selected feature. Simply click a map feature (pointer cursor will appear when hovering over a feature is "selectable"). When a feature is selected it is highlighted in light blue & details of the feature appear in the "popup" window. The more "zoomed-in" the more precise the feature selection will be. If zoomed-out or if features lie in close proximity, multiple features will be captured in the "popup" window. The user can iterate through the selected features using the small pointer arrow at the bottom-right of the "popup" window.

Measure

The Measurement widget provides three tools:

1. Area Measure - Tool provides the ability to the user to create a polygon and calculate the area in a variety of units (square miles, acres, square kilometers, etc.). To use the tool, the user clicks the map to create boundary points, and when boundary is defined, the user double-clicks to complete the operation.

2. Distance Measure - Tool provides the ability to the user to create lines/polylines and calculate the length in a variety of units (miles, feet, kilometers, etc.). To use the tool, the user clicks the map to create line points, and when line is defined, the user double-clicks to complete the operation.

3. Clear - This tool allows the user to delete current graohics on the map and clear the measurement window.

Basemap

The Basemap Toggle allows the user to switch between ESRI-provided basemap services - Satellite imagery & street map.

Data Download Menu

The Data Download menu allows the user to download GIS data in ESRI® Shapefile format for the current jurisdictional lines, and download beach-specific Survey Packets containing DWG and Excel (.xlsx) coordinate files for the current jurisdictional lines, Line Reports, & Beachfront Monument Survey Sheets.

View Line Reports Menu

The View Line Reports menu allows the user to view beach-specific line reports in PDF format.

Beachfront Jurisdictional Lines Establishment

Establishment of the baseline at a given location depends on the classified beach erosion zone at that location. South Carolina beaches are dived into three beach erosion zones, which include the following.


  • Standard Erosion Zone - 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.
  • Inlet Erosion Zone - a segment of shoreline along or adjacent to tidal inlets which is influenced directly by the inlet and its associated shoals. Inlet erosion zones are further classified into the following categories.
    • Unstabilized Inlet Erosion Zones - inlets which have not been stabilized by jetties, terminal groins, or other structures.
    • Stabilized Inlet Erosion Zones - inlets which are stabilized by jetties, terminal groins, or other structures.

The setback line must be established landward of the baseline a distance which is forty times the average annual erosion rate or not less than twenty feet from the baseline for each erosion zone based upon the best historical and scientific data adopted by the department as a part of the State Comprehensive Beach Management Plan. South Carolina Code of Laws §48-39-280 specifies the full process for establishing the state’s beachfront jurisdictional lines.


More Information

Additional information regarding beachfront permitting, monitoring and management can be found on the SCDES BCM website. If you require assistance, please contact SCDES BCM at 843-953-0200.

Note: Sincere appreciation to Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Georgetown and Horry County governments, and the S.C. GIS Coordination Council for providing data to enable parcel-based navigation functionality.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Bureau of Coastal Management (BCM), is required by law to establish and review the position of two lines of beachfront jurisdiction (the baseline and the setback line) once every seven to ten years. These lines delineate the extent of the state’s direct permitting authority for activities proposed within the beach/dune system critical area.


This web application allows the public to view and download the current established jurisdictional lines, line reports, and survey packets. Jurisdictional lines and basemap imagery are provided here for reference purposes only . In order to determine the exact position of the jurisdictional lines for a given property, coordinates must be downloaded, and a property-specific survey must be performed.


Aerial imagery featured in this application is provided by ESRI ® and is periodically updated by ESRI ® as new imagery becomes available (similar to the way in which Google ® or Bing ® maps are updated). A change in aerial imagery may appear as a shift in the position of the jurisdictional lines due to the angle of the photography. However, the coordinates of the current established baseline and setback line have not changed since they were established during the 2016-2018 line review cycle. They will be the established lines until the next review cycle, which will begin no sooner than 2024.


For additional information on beachfront jurisdiction, please visit the State Beachfront Jurisdiction page.


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