Laurens First in South Carolina to Launch Housing Pattern Book

Laurens has made state history once again. On September 16, Laurens City Council unanimously approved South Carolina’s first-ever housing pattern book, a tool designed to make building new homes easier and more affordable while protecting the character that makes the city unique.

The pattern book offers builders and families pre-approved home designs that already meet Laurens’ building standards. By choosing one of these plans, projects can move forward more quickly, with less red tape and fewer costs. At the same time, the homes are designed to fit naturally into existing neighborhoods, maintaining Laurens’ small-town charm.

“This is an incentive, not a mandate,” explained Mayor Nathan Senn. “Builders and homeowners can still pursue their own designs, but the pattern book makes doing the right thing—building homes that feel at home in Laurens—easier and more affordable. It’s just common sense to make it easier to do what our community has told us is a priority. This is a win-win-win. Builders gain efficiency, families gain affordability, and the city protects the character that makes Laurens special.”

The initiative builds on zoning code updates adopted earlier this year and is part of the city’s long-term commitment to revitalizing existing neighborhoods, encouraging infill, and preserving architectural heritage. Homes featured in the pattern book range from cottages and garage apartments to multi-family units, all designed to blend seamlessly with Laurens’ traditional streetscapes.

“Laurens is blessed that so much of our traditional architecture remains intact,” Senn added. “As our city grows, we’re committed to ensuring new homes are connected to the fabric of our existing neighborhoods rather than standing apart from them. Laurens is blessed to have preserved so much of its history and character. This incentive helps us protect it for the future.”

The concept isn’t entirely new. A century ago, companies like Sears Roebuck sold home kits that helped define communities across America. Many of those homes still stand in Laurens today. The city’s new pattern book takes that same practical approach into the future, making it easier to build homes that belong in Laurens while meeting modern needs.

The Laurens Housing Pattern Book is now available online at www.cityoflaurenssc.com.