Mushroom foraging laws in South Carolina

Summary

South Carolina bans taking plants or plant parts in state parks without a permit, and bans gathering plants and fungi on wildlife management areas and other Department of Natural Resources land unless a permit allows it. Mushrooms in state parks are not named. Selling wild mushrooms to food establishments requires an approved, tested identification expert and is limited to listed species, including morels.

Public land

State parks: S.C. Code 51-3-145(D) bars taking or gathering any tree, shrub, other plant or plant part, rock, mineral or geological feature except by permit from the department. Mushrooms are not named. Wildlife management areas, heritage preserves and other Department of Natural Resources land: S.C. Code 50-11-2200(C)(20) bars gathering, damaging or destroying plants, fallen vegetation, animals and fungi except by permit or as part of other authorized activity. Federal lands follow their own rules.

Permits

State parks: a permit from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is required. Wildlife management areas and other DNR land: a DNR permit is required.

Selling

South Carolina's retail food rule (Reg. 61-25, 3-201.16 and 9-4) says wild foraged mushrooms for food establishments must be individually inspected and found safe by an approved mushroom identification expert. The expert must have passed an exam from an approved third-party certifier and may harvest only the species on the rule's list.

Morel sales

Yellow morel (Morchella esculenta), tulip morel (M. deliciosa) and black morel (M. elata) are on the approved list in Reg. 61-25, 9-4.

Sources

• South Carolina Code of Laws Title 51 Chapter 3 (State Parks)
• South Carolina Code of Laws Title 50 Chapter 11 (Wildlife Management Areas)
• SC Dept. of Agriculture - Regulation 61-25 Retail Food Establishments

Last verified: November 11, 2026