Data centers aren't listed in Beaufort County code. Where could they be built?
Beaufort County, South Carolina, is addressing the absence of specific data center zoning classifications in its current code. Robert Merchant, Director of Planning and Zoning, indicated that data centers would likely be categorized under light or heavy industrial uses. The county is considering how to amend its ordinances to explicitly address data center developments in the future.
During an August 3, 2026, Beaufort County Natural Resources Committee meeting, Robert Merchant, the director of planning and zoning, addressed the current lack of specific zoning designations for data centers within the county's code.
Merchant explained that if a data center project were to approach the county, it would likely be categorized under existing light industrial or heavy industrial zoning districts, particularly for larger proposals. He noted that the size of a proposed data center would influence its potential location within the county's current ordinances. The discussion highlighted the need for the county to consider how its code might be altered or amended in the future to more explicitly address data center developments.