Kershaw County widens rural event‑venue lot minimum to 10 acres; ordinance passes second reading

Kershaw County Council on Aug. 12 amended zoning rules to require a 10‑acre minimum lot size for rural event venues and rural country clubs, approving the change as part of a second‑reading ordinance.

The change, carried by unanimous vote on the Tomlinson amendment, raises the rural minimum from 5 to 10 acres in the county’s Zoning and Land Development Regulations (ZLDR) sections for rural event venues and rural country clubs. The council then approved the ordinance on second reading; Councilman Jones recorded the lone in‑person opposition on the second‑reading vote.

The amendment’s sponsor, Councilman Brent Tomlinson, said the larger minimum is intended as a protective measure to keep event spaces out of denser, newer subdivisions and to create an economic niche for small, rural "mom‑and‑pop" venues. Planning staff and councilmembers discussed how the change affects existing businesses: venues already operating would remain legal nonconformities and would not be forced to close unless they seek an expansion that triggers re‑review.

Council members pressed staff on practical issues that could limit new venues, including water, sewer and fire‑protection availability in rural areas. Staff and the county building official said many regulatory constraints are set by state code and building/fire standards: a kitchen or certain building sizes can trigger added requirements such as firewalls or automatic sprinklers. The staff explained there are design strategies (fire barriers, compartmentalization) that can reduce the scope and cost of sprinkler systems for some structures.

Planning staff and County Administrator Danny Templer said the amendment is designed to regulate venues rented to the public (for example, wedding receptions), not private agricultural barns or private‑use structures that are exempt under state agricultural rules. County staff pointed stakeholders to the applicable sections of the ZLDR and building code for design guidance.

Councilman Tomlinson and other supporters said the change opens a clearer path for applicants who previously struggled to fit event‑venue operations into the county’s zoning table of uses. The ordinance now returns to a future meeting for any additional readings required by county procedure.

The county clerk recorded the in‑person and remote votes for the amendment and the ordinance on second reading.