Design Review Board

The Design Review Board is a seven member committee appointed by Sumter City Council. It is tasked by the Council to implement design review for all exterior appearance and materials in two design review districts -- the Downtown Historic District and the Hampton Park Historic District.

The Board uses the basic standards established in the City of Sumter Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance and locally developed Design Review Guidelines.  Design review includes buildings, landscaping, fences, and signs.  Colors may be approved by the Planning Staff if using colors from the City of Sumter Historic Color Palette, with some restrictions.

This Board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m.  During renovations at the Sumter Opera House, all Planning Department Public Meetings will be temporarily relocated to the James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center, Santee-Wateree Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Meeting Room, 129 Harvin Street.

Historic resource studies

• City of Sumter Historic Resources Survey (2010)
  • City of Sumter Historic Resources Survey Maps (2010)
• Historic Resources Survey of West End, Mason Croft, and Greater Hampton Park Neighborhoods (2025)
  • Appendix A - Historic Resource Survey Map (2025)
  • Appendix B - SHPO National Register Evaluations (2025)
  • Appendix C - Oral History of Westend Neighborhood (2025)
  • Appendix D - Historic Resources Survey Datasheet (2025)

Agendas, Minutes, & Staff Reports