Heritage Lakes, Bluffton SC: Homes and Community Guide

What Is Heritage Lakes in Bluffton?

Heritage Lakes is a non-gated community of 235 single-family homes and homesites in Bluffton, South Carolina. Lots are larger than in most newer Bluffton neighborhoods, many are wooded, and many back to one of the community lagoons. The only shared amenity is a community boat and RV storage yard. There is no community pool, clubhouse, or golf course.

Buyers typically consider Heritage Lakes for the larger lots, mature landscaping, boat and RV storage, and limited community amenities.

Where Is Heritage Lakes Located?

Heritage Lakes sits between Bluffton Parkway and Malphrus Road and has two entrances, one off each road. It is in the part of Bluffton between the Hilton Head Island bridges and Burnt Church Road, just south of US-278 (Fording Island Road). Old Town Bluffton, the bridges to Hilton Head Island, and the main Bluffton shopping and medical areas are all a short drive away.

When Bluffton Parkway was extended, a sound wall was added where the parkway runs along Heritage Lakes, which helps buffer the homes closest to the road.

Estimated drive times from the community. Traffic and time of day can materially affect travel times.

Homes and Home Styles in Heritage Lakes

Homes in Heritage Lakes are single-family homes built primarily in the 1990s and early 2000s, ranging from about 1,700 to more than 3,000 square feet. You will find both one-story plans with a main-level primary suite and larger two-story homes, many with bonus rooms. Two-car garages are typical, and some homes have three-car garages. Many Heritage Lakes homes have private pools, and the larger lots may provide room for one, subject to lot conditions and ARB approval.

Lots commonly run from about half an acre to close to an acre. There is a wide variety of homes, including custom and semi-custom homes and even a few modular homes. Because many were individually built over time, styles, finishes, and updates vary more than in a single-builder neighborhood.

Private pools, docks, fences, additions, and other lot improvements are subject to the lot, the governing documents, and Architectural Review Board approval. The key rules are summarized below.

Does Heritage Lakes Have Amenities?

Yes, one: community boat and RV storage. Heritage Lakes does not have a community pool, clubhouse, fitness center, tennis courts, or golf. Many Heritage Lakes homes have private pools. The lagoons that run through the neighborhood give many lots a water view and wildlife. The lagoons are relatively small and function as part of the neighborhood's stormwater drainage system.

Boat storage matters here because Heritage Lakes limits what you can keep at your home. You can keep a boat up to 18 feet on your property if it is screened from the street per the HOA rules, but boats over 18 feet cannot be kept on a residential lot. The gated storage yard also holds RVs, and storage fees apply for both boats and RVs. As of September 2026, spaces were available. Confirm availability and current fees with the property owners association before you buy if a boat or RV is part of your plan.

What Flood Zone Is Heritage Lakes In?

Heritage Lakes is primarily in FEMA Flood Zone X, with shaded Zone X (commonly called X500) along the wetland and lagoon areas that run through the neighborhood, based on the FEMA flood map as of 9-24-26. Both are outside FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area. Flood zone is determined by the specific lot, so check the individual property before you write an offer.

For more on how flood insurance works here, see my guide: Do You Need Flood Insurance in Bluffton?

Heritage Lakes Rules Buyers Ask About

The following summarizes the Heritage Lakes recorded rules and Architectural Review Board guidelines reviewed in September 2026. Rules can change, so buyers should review the current governing documents before purchasing.

Boats, Trailers, and Vehicles

• Boats up to 18 feet may be kept on your property if screened from the street. Boats over 18 feet cannot be kept on a residential lot. Trailers and bicycles must be kept out of view.
• RVs and vehicles larger than a standard pickup truck or van cannot be parked overnight on a lot without written approval from the HOA management company. RVs can go in the community storage yard for a fee.
• Parking is allowed in driveways and on the street, but not overnight on the street, and never on lawns or common areas.

Lagoons and Docks

• No swimming and no motorized boats on the lagoons. Fishing is allowed for owners and their guests at their own risk.
• Docks are allowed only on lots whose property lines extend to the lagoon, and never on designated wetlands or common property, even if the wetland sits between the home and the water.
• Docks are limited to 15 by 18 feet, may extend no more than 10 feet into the lagoon, and must be at least 20 feet from the side property line. Covered docks, electricity, and bulkheads are possible with ARB approval.

Fences, Trees, and Exterior Changes

• Fences are limited to the rear yard (front yard fencing is considered case by case), with a 4-foot maximum height. Solid privacy fencing is not allowed. Approved materials are wood, composite, aluminum, iron, stone, brick, and black or dark green chain link.
• Removing any tree 6 inches or more in diameter, measured 4 feet above the ground, requires ARB approval. No trees may be removed from wetlands or common areas.
• Exterior changes, including repainting the same color, require ARB approval before work begins.

Other Rules

• Leases must be at least 6 months. Short-term and vacation rentals are not an option here.
• Household pets are allowed, and a leash law applies.
• Golf carts are allowed in accordance with South Carolina law.
• For Sale and security system signs are the only signs permitted without ARB approval.

What Does It Cost to Own in Heritage Lakes?

Heritage Lakes has a property owners association with an annual assessment and a transfer fee paid by the buyer at closing. With no community pool, clubhouse, or golf to maintain, dues go toward common areas, the lagoons, and the storage yard. Current POA dues and transfer fees are listed on my Bluffton HOA Fees and Transfer Fees page.

Property taxes, insurance, and the other costs of owning in Bluffton are covered in my Bluffton cost of ownership guide.

What I Like About Heritage Lakes

I've lived in the SC Lowcountry since December 1996 and have been licensed since 2009. Heritage Lakes is one of the Bluffton communities I discuss with buyers looking for larger established lots, mature trees, boat or RV storage, and relatively quick access to both Old Town Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

The tradeoff is straightforward: Heritage Lakes does not have the recreational amenities found in many newer Bluffton communities. Buyers are primarily paying for the location, lot, home, and neighborhood rather than a large shared amenity package.

What I also like about Heritage Lakes is that it does not feel cookie-cutter. Homes, lot sizes, architecture, and levels of updating vary considerably from one property to the next. It has the feel of the established neighborhoods many buyers remember from where they grew up, including the one I grew up in: mature trees, deep lots, and homes that each have their own character.

What Buyers Should Know Before Choosing Heritage Lakes

• No community pool or recreation amenities. Many homes have private pools, but if you want a community pool, courts, or a clubhouse, this is not the right fit.
• Homes vary widely. Construction ranges from custom to modular, and condition ranges from original to fully renovated. Pay close attention to roof age, HVAC, water heater, and other major systems during inspection.
• Plan where your boat will live. A boat up to 18 feet can stay at your home if screened; larger boats and RVs go to the community storage yard, which charges a fee. Spaces were available as of September 2026, but availability changes, so confirm with the POA before you buy.
• Lagoon view does not guarantee a dock. Docks require the lot line to reach the water and cannot cross designated wetlands. Check the plat before paying for a waterfront lot with a dock in mind. Because the lagoons are small, a dock here is mainly for enjoying the view rather than boating.
• No privacy fencing. Fences are rear yard only, 4 feet maximum, and cannot be solid.
• Larger lots mean more yard. Wooded and lagoon-front lots take more upkeep than a small lot in a newer community.
• Check a home's position relative to Bluffton Parkway. A sound wall runs along the parkway where it borders the community. Visit at different times of day if you are considering a home near that edge.
• Flood zone varies by lot. Lots nearest the wetland and lagoon areas may fall in shaded Zone X (X500) rather than Zone X.

Is Heritage Lakes a Good Fit for You?

Heritage Lakes tends to fit buyers who want:

• A single-family home on a larger, established lot, often with a lagoon view
• A place to keep a boat or RV within the community
• A central Bluffton location close to Old Town and the Hilton Head Island bridges
• A non-gated neighborhood without the cost of running a community pool or clubhouse, with room on many lots for a private pool

Buyers prioritizing new construction, a community pool, fitness facilities, or extensive recreational amenities may want to compare Heritage Lakes with newer Bluffton communities.

A Similar Bluffton Community to Consider

Heritage Lakes FAQ

Recent Sales in Heritage Lakes

Because homes, lots, and updates vary so much in Heritage Lakes, recent sales are the best guide to value. See every Heritage Lakes home sold in the last 6 months.

Thinking About Heritage Lakes?

I can pull recent Heritage Lakes sales, confirm storage yard space, and tell you how a specific home and lot compare before you schedule a trip. Call or text 843.247.9373, or email carl@SCLowcountryRealEstate.com.

Written by Carl Kratz, Broker & Realtor, Century 21 Integra Realty. Last reviewed September 27, 2026. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed; confirm details for any specific property.