The Lancaster County Planning Department is responsible for all of the planning activities which take place within Lancaster County, the City of Lancaster and the Towns of Heath Springs and Kershaw. The department is responsible for writing all of the regulations which govern development within these four jurisdictions and providing technical support to the County and Municipal Councils, the Lancaster County Planning Commission and the Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals on all planning topics and makes recommendations on items which are before the Planning Commission prior to these items being heard by the various councils. Additionally, the county's E-911 Addressing Coordinator is part of the department.

The Lancaster Planning Commission consists of 7 members appointed by the Lancaster County Council, which represent the 7 County Council districts. Terms are for 4 years - members may serve 2 consecutive terms.  Residency in the district for which the member is appointed is required. All members must be sworn in prior to participating in a meeting. Appointed members must comply with S.C. Code relating to orientation training (6 hours) and continuing education (3 hours each year).  Classes are scheduled by the Planning Department. 

The Commissions responsibilities are to make decisions on subdivision requests and to make recommendations to the County Council on rezoning applications and any changes to the text of the zoning or subdivision regulations.

The Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals consists of 7 members. One member is appointed from each of the seven County Council Districts. This Board is responsible for making decisions when an individual does not agree with a decision of a zoning enforcement officer, requests a variance from the standard zoning regulations or when a special exception permit is required. Terms are for 4 years - members may serve 2 consecutive terms.  Residency in the district for which the member is appointed is not required.  All members must be sworn in prior to participating in a meeting. Appointed members must comply with S.C. Code relating to orientation training (6 hours) and continuing education (3 hours each year). Classes are scheduled by the Planning Department. This Board acts a quasi-judicial body. Therefore, the decisions of this Board can only be appealed to Circuit Court.

The Lancaster County Planning Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the County Council Chambers of the Lancaster County Administration Building on Main St. The Planning Commission also holds a work session the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the same location.

To place an item on one of these agendas, the appropriate application must be submitted to the Lancaster County Planning Department located at 101 N. Main Street, Suite 108 or mailed to the department at P.O. Box 1809, Lancaster, South Carolina 29721 by the prior month's meeting date.

The E-911 Addressing Coordinator is responsible for assigning all street addresses. She also accepts applications for new roads names, changes in the names of existing roads and appeals from road name standards. This position serves as an information center with regard to street addresses for all types of governmental agencies, and individuals.