ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Orangeburg County leaders are taking a closer look at how new housing and commercial development is affecting local services.

The county is currently studying whether to create impact fees — charges placed on new development to help pay for the increased demand on public services such as roads, utilities, EMS and law enforcement.

As more people move into the area, officials say they want to make sure infrastructure can keep up.

“Impact fees are fees that are for new developments,” County Administrator Harold Young said. “When we have these housing developments that are building 400, 500 houses, the impact fee is something that’s levied to help with the impact of those new houses or new people coming to the area.”

Young said county data shows growth across seve

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