Greenville County study recommends exploring impact fees for public safety and parks, advises caution on stormwater and solid waste

A consultant presenting a feasibility study to the Greenville County Planning Commission recommended the county explore impact fees for sheriff services, fire districts, emergency medical services and parks and recreation, while advising against stormwater and solid‑waste fees at this time and urging caution on transportation fees.

The consultant said impact fees are distinct from taxes: "It's not a tax, but an agreement to build infrastructure," and that fees must meet a three‑prong legal test requiring nexus between new development and infrastructure demand, demonstrable benefit to those who pay, and proportionality among land uses. He warned that under South Carolina law, fee revenue must be spent within three years of the planned expenditure date in the capital improvements program, not three years after the funds are collected.

Why it matters: Greenville County has substantial growth in unincorporated areas — the presenter cited an average of about 3,300 new homes annually from 2021 to September 2025 — and officials are weighing how to fund added infrastructure without overrelying on property tax. The consultant noted that impact…