What you need to know about Greenville’s new development code

The drafted code serves as the city’s guidelines for future development and growth and takes effect Saturday, July 15.

Aerial shot of current city hall building (tall, multi-story, black mid-century building)

Changes to Greenville’s development code are officially coming. | Photo provided by the City of Greenville

Table of Contents

It’s no secret Greenville is growing, and City leaders created a new development code to ensure that growth is sustainable.

The code, which serves as a set of guidelines for addressing issues for future development, passed Monday, June 12 and goes into effect Saturday, July 15.

What does the code do?

The new code is designed to:

  • Protect existing neighborhoods from incompatible development
  • Provide new housing options at various price points
  • Steer more intense development to major roadways
  • Provide more recreation and open space
  • Enact new road, sidewalk and bicycle standards to improve mobility throughout the community and take vehicular pressure off our streets

It increases open space requirements for new office, commercial, and multifamily construction and extends the protection of neighborhood heritage trees.

Additionally, the code incentivizes developers to address open space and affordable housing goals:

  • Preserve as much as 35% of Greenville’s remaining vacant land as open space or parkland
  • Make at least 10% of all new housing in Greenville income-restricted to preserve access to high-quality affordable housing

How can you learn more?

Planning staff will lead code education workshops to assist developers, designers, and community members with information about the new code.

Drop-in to the Prisma Health Welcome Center at Unity Park:

  • Thursday, July 13 from 8 to 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, July 19 from 8 to 11 a.m.
  • Monday, July 24 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Want to know how an area is zoned? Enter an address on the Interactive Zoning Map to find the current and proposed zoning under the new code.

More from GVLtoday
Trueline is launching founding memberships for its private Green Room club, offering exclusive access, priority ticketing, and elevated hospitality ahead of its 2026 opening.
You can’t scroll without seeing a WIP Wednesday or a Finish Friday, so whether you’re an experienced stitcher or new to needlepoint, we’re rounding up where you can get canvases, supplies, accessories, and support.
Discover the top Greenville business podcasts, voices, and local resources our readers are tuning into — from must-listen interviews to expert insights.
The Civil Rights Icon, who died on Tuesday, Feb. 17, is one of the most prominent Greenvillians in US history.
One Greenvillian was sick of the dating apps, so she took matters into her own hands creating a new product to make connections.
From Italy to SC, here’s your chance to see the gold medal Team USA figure skaters on home ice.
As the Olympic torch is lit, and our ambitions get the best of us, we’ve compiled a list of Upstate spots to turn your Olympic dreams into a reality.
This year’s price is $8 million dollars for 30 seconds, and if you think about it, that’s a lot of (Stecca) dough.
Dig into Greenville’s must-try pizza shops.
Here’s what it costs to park in Greenville, SC.