“To create a vibrant, safe and healthy community for all, through holistic planning, full of charm and character that is uniquely Walhalla.” That’s the mission of Walhalla’s Planning Department, responsible for administering the City’s Zoning Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, and related ordinances.
The Comprehensive Plan
A Comprehensive Plan is both a community vision for the future and a blueprint for how to get there, guiding City decisions on programs, policies, and ordinances. South Carolina law requires every Comprehensive Plan to address ten elements: population, economic development, natural resources, cultural/historic resources, community facilities and services, housing, land use, transportation, resiliency, and priority investments. The City’s currently adopted plan dates to 2015; the department’s ongoing work toward an updated “Walhalla 2045” vision has included public open houses and focus groups, though the 2015 plan remains the current adopted document.
Before You Start a Project
Contact the Planning Department before beginning any of the following:
Adding to a building or making structural alterations
Changing a building or land's use
Constructing or expanding a new structure
Demolishing a building
Subdividing land
Installing or replacing signage
Signage Requirements
Installing or replacing a sign in Walhalla requires a Sign Application and permit. Signs in the Downtown Design Review area are additionally subject to the Walhalla Design Guidelines, which govern building exteriors and site design downtown. Download both from the Forms & Applications section below before visiting the Planning Office.
Planning Commission & Board of Zoning Appeals Deadlines
Applications requiring Planning Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals consideration must be submitted by the second Wednesday of each month, for consideration at the following month’s meeting.
2026 Deadline Calendar
Full schedule of submission deadlines and meeting dates for the year.
Forms & Applications
Download and complete these forms before your visit to the Planning Office. All payments and fees must be made in person at the office, online or phone payments aren’t accepted. Applications are reviewed within 5 business days after payment is received.
Related Boards
Rezoning, subdivision, and variance requests go before one of the City’s boards. Applications must be submitted by the second Wednesday of the month for the following month’s meeting.
Board of Zoning Appeals
Hears appeals of zoning decisions and variance requests. Meets as needed on the third Monday of each month, with a minimum 15-day public notice. Appeals must be filed within 10 days of the zoning administrator’s decision.
Office Location
- Address: 206 N. Church Street, Walhalla, SC 29691
- Phone: (864) 638-4343