Scenic Highway 11 Corridor Information

Pickens County is home to one of the most beautiful stretches of Highway 11, also known as the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway. It is by luck and appreciation of this beauty that a large part of the area has remained undeveloped. As our county continues to grow, Pickens County wants to ensure it grows in the best way possible.

In December 2022, Pickens County Council has passed an ordinance to preserve the beauty and serenity of the Pickens County Natural Heritage Area. This new change has not been implemented to restrict the land use rights of the residential property owner, rather, this implementation has been enacted prohibit the negative impact of heavy industrial and other intensive uses. The Pickens County Natural Heritage Area is the area bound by a line one thousand feet in either direction from the center line of Highway 11 and all property included in the viewshed. There is also a buffer area one hundred fifty feet on either side of the center line of Highway 11. This area has some additional guidelines for development.

The design provisions of this ordinance do not significantly impact single-family residential use. Pickens County is dedicated to its citizens and protecting the natural beauty of its territory.

A map of the Natural Heritage Area can be accessed here.

The ordinance can be accessed here.

Please reach out to the Pickens County Planning Department with any questions.