Aerial view of a small white house beside winding dark-water marsh channels and a straight levee.

Telfair Plantation Hardeeville SC: Gated Acreage & Marshfront Living

Real Estate Trisha Cook July 22, 2025

Just minutes from the charm and history of downtown Savannah and tucked quietly behind the SCAD Equestrian Center, you’ll find one of the Lowcountry’s most exclusive hidden gems: Telfair Plantation. This gated community in Hardeeville, South Carolina, offers a rare blend of privacy, natural beauty, and modern convenience, creating the perfect backdrop for those seeking something more than just a homesite.

Here, expansive lots provide room to build a custom home that reflects your lifestyle. Whether that means a classic Lowcountry porch overlooking the marsh, a private equestrian estate with paddocks and riding trails, or simply a peaceful place to unplug and reconnect with nature. With essential infrastructure already in place, including power, water, and high-speed internet, each parcel is truly build-ready.

Surrounded by preserved wetlands, winding walking paths, and panoramic marshfront views, Telfair Plantation is more than a neighborhood. It’s a return to space, stillness, and Southern charm. Whether your dream includes watching sunsets over the marsh, saddling up for a morning ride, or building a generational retreat with room to grow, Telfair is the kind of place where your vision has room to take root.

If you’ve been searching for acreage near Savannah that feels private, peaceful, and full of potential—now is the perfect time to discover Telfair Plantation.


Why Telfair Plantation Is So Unique

  • Gated community just 15 minutes from Savannah and Bluffton

  • 66 estate-sized homesites with power, water, and high-speed internet

  • Only 3 homes built, allowing for unmatched privacy and custom opportunities

  • Access to scenic walking and equestrian trails throughout the community

  • Located directly behind SCAD’s Equestrian Center in Hardeeville, SC

  • Designed for single-family custom homes with optional guest houses and equestrian use

Telfair Plantation entrance with black iron gates, brick pillars, and a landscaped median.

 


Architectural Standards and 2025 Covenant Highlights

Telfair Plantation has thoughtfully designed standards to maintain the natural beauty, privacy, and value of the community. The latest updates, approved in 2023 and rolling into full effect in 2025, reflect a commitment to long-term vision and homeowner investment.

Construction & Architectural Guidelines

  • All construction must be approved by the Architectural Review Committee (ARC)

  • Minimum primary residence size: 2,000 sq ft heated/cooled elevated space

  • ARC favors 2,500+ sq ft for primary residence or 3,000+ with outdoor living

  • Guest houses must be at least 1,000 sq ft and may only be built after the main home

  • Construction must be completed within 12 months of permitting

Design Requirements

  • Earth-tone color palettes only (white, ivory, sand, muted greens and browns)

  • No high-visibility exterior paint colors (bright red, blue, yellow, etc.)

  • Approved materials: brick, stucco, hardi-plank, wood clapboard

  • No metal siding or unfinished wood permitted

  • Roofing must be composite shingles, ceramic tile, or painted metal in earth tones

Property Use & Lifestyle

  • Residential use only; business activity must be undetectable from outside

  • No mobile homes or temporary structures

  • Short-term rentals allowed with 4-night minimum and $100 ARC permit per rental

  • Horses permitted (2.5 acre minimum lot, 1 acre per horse)

  • Equestrian fencing must match SCAD’s paddock style


Community Amenities & Nature Preservation

Telfair Plantation isn’t just build-ready, it’s lifestyle-ready.

  • Miles of equestrian and pedestrian trails throughout the development

  • Natural ponds, marshes, and conservation areas

  • Gated access with private roads maintained by the POA

  • Underground utilities and fiber internet connections

  • Peaceful setting surrounded by wildlife and wetlands

  • No clear-cutting allowed; selective tree removal only with ARC approval


Fees and Financial Considerations

  • One-time $2,500 Building Capital Impact Fee due at time of permit approval

  • One-time Working Capital Fee (1/6 of annual dues) due at lot purchase

  • Annual POA dues (currently $800, subject to change)

  • Refundable construction deposits required by homeowner and builder

  • The first 10 homes built may qualify for waived or reduced ARC fees


Who Is Telfair Plantation Right For?

This community is ideal for:

  • Buyers who want a large homesite close to Savannah, Bluffton, and Hilton Head

  • Equestrian families or individuals seeking paddock space and trails

  • Custom homebuilders looking for a peaceful, upscale setting with high standards

  • Investors who value long-term architectural control and limited density

  • Anyone ready to build a legacy home surrounded by nature, not neighbors

Aerial view of tidal marshland with winding waterways and wooded banks at golden hour.


Final Thoughts

Telfair Plantation offers something that’s increasingly rare along the South Carolina coast: land, privacy, and the ability to build a home that reflects your vision without sacrificing community integrity. With updated covenants, a limited number of lots, and close proximity to both city amenities and equestrian centers, this community is truly the Lowcountry’s next great address.

If you're ready to explore this one-of-a-kind neighborhood, now is the time. With build-ready infrastructure and covenants that protect your investment, Telfair Plantation invites you to create your own Southern sanctuary.


Want to see available lots or walk the property?
Let’s schedule a private tour and explore the possibilities together.

 

Recent Blog Posts

Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.

Cream clapboard porch with a gray-green glazed front door, wooden rocking chair, brick edging and a mature live oak beside a fern bed.
Crescendo Turns Ten, and Hilton Head's South End Becomes Its Stage

Golf course with sand bunkers and a golf cart carrying clubs in the foreground.

Buying a Home

Wexford vs. Long Cove Club: Golf, Boating and Ownership Costs

Two private Hilton Head communities, with different boating setups and practical questions buyers should settle before choosing a home.

Buying a Home

How to Review HOA Financials Before Buying in Coastal Georgia or the Lowcountry

Look beyond the dues to understand reserves, planned projects, special assessments and the questions that need written answers.

Commercial / Investment Properties

Self-Managing vs. Hiring a Savannah Property Manager

What rental owners should compare beyond the monthly fee, from leasing and maintenance to records, inspections and time.

Aerial view of a neighborhood pool and clubhouse at sunset, surrounded by homes and pine trees.

Community Guides

Del Webb Savannah at Heartwood: A Buyer’s Guide to 55+ Living

What to know about this Richmond Hill community, its homes, amenity plans and place in a Savannah-area retirement search.

Cream clapboard cottage porch with a gray-green glazed door, white rocking chair, weathered painted floorboards and two brick steps beside a yaupon holly.

Coastal Georgia living

Tybee Island Beach Renourishment: What Owners Need to Know

What the winter project could mean for beach access, property showings and buying or selling on Tybee in 2026–2027.

Savannah Quarters entrance with an illuminated brick sign, gate, and landscaped grounds at dusk.

Selling A Home

Selling Your Savannah Quarters Home Takes Local Strategy

Luxury photography is only the beginning. Pricing must account for the specific neighborhood, Club access, lot position, upgrades and competing new construction.

Aerial view of Savannah’s riverfront, with a container ship on the Savannah River and the Talmadge Memorial Bridge.

buyer education

Savannah Economic Update: Growth Slows as Housing Construction Shifts

What Michael Toma’s latest Georgia Southern report tells us about jobs, new construction and real estate decisions in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties.

Aerial view of a golf course beside a clubhouse and swimming pool.

Community Guides

Hilton Head Plantation vs. Long Cove Club: Two Very Different Ways to Live on Hilton Head Island

Compare ownership costs, Club structure, golf, marina access, rental rules and the practical differences buyers should understand before choosing between Hilton Head P… Read more

Work With Us

Join hands with Savannah’s premier coastal specialists for a real estate experience that’s as unique as you are. Whether buying, selling, or exploring new opportunities, our team is dedicated to guiding you with warmth, and expert insight.