South Carolina Forest Renewal Program (FRP) (FRP)

South Carolina's state reforestation cost-share program, funded mainly by an assessment on forest industries and partly by state appropriations. It reimburses eligible non-industrial landowners 40% of actual cost (up to per-acre maximums) for site preparation and tree planting on previously forested or agricultural land, and for timber stand improvement. Funding starts each July, with a waiting list when funds run short.

• Any private individual, group, partnership, association, trust or corporation not engaged in the manufacture of wood products, or any other legal entity owning non-industrial forestland capable of producing wood products (stockholders in forest-products companies are eligible as individuals)

• Not eligible: private entities manufacturing forest products (sawmills, pulp and paper mills, plywood plants, oleoresin plants); public utilities or governmental agencies

• Land must be capable of growing at least 50 cubic feet of wood per acre per year; the 1,000-acre limit for federal cost-share does not apply to the state program

• Ten contiguous acres minimum per practice; maximum funding limited to practices on 100 acres; reforestation applications only after all merchantable timber has been harvested

Reimbursement of 40% of actual cost up to per-acre maximums, paid directly to the landowner after the forester verifies the work (invoices required; partial payment possible after site prep); practices completed within 20 months of funding; land maintained in forest for 10 years or until commercial harvest, or cost-share must be repaid.

Published amounts: The South Carolina Forestry Commission will reimburse the landowner 40% of the actual cost of the practice not to exceed the maximum per-acre rate for FRP (FRP/SPB Cost-Share Rates 2026-27). FRP maximum rates per acre include: Solid Planting – Loblolly $60, Longleaf (container) $87, Hardwood $92; V-blade Planting – Loblolly $75, Longleaf $107; Site Prep: Light Mechanical $67; Medium/Heavy Mechanical $143; Chemical $48; Burn $16; Post Plant Chemical $32; Herbaceous Weed Control (band spray) $16; Timber Stand Improvement (heavy) $32; Natural Regeneration – Hardwood $44; Subsoil $12; Scalp $10. The maximum funds allocated to any eligible landowner is limited to the amount needed to complete approved practices on 100 acres of land.

Contact your local SC Forestry Commission office (county Project Forester) for an application; submit the completed application, IRS Form W-9, proof of ownership and a forest management plan approved by an SCFC forester. Do not begin work until notified that the application is approved.

Deadline text on the page: FRP brochure: 'The SC Forestry Commission will begin funding of applications in July of each year.' 'For best opportunity to be funded applications should be submitted prior to May 15th.' 'Applicants not funded in July due to funding limitations will be placed on a waiting list for future funding. Mid-year funding may be possible.'