Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance

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Home > Departments > Planning > Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance

Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance,
Adopted November 20, 2001
Amended: July 18, 2006, January 9, 2007, March 4, 2008, June 17, 2008, August 11, 2009, May 4, 2010, October 19, 2010, December 7, 2010, December 16, 2010, April 19, 2011, October 11, 2011, November 15, 2011, April 24, 2012 & May 8, 2012.

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Table Of Contents


CHAPTER 1 │ INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
	ART. 1.1	TITLE...................................................................................	1-1
	ART. 1.2	AUTHORITY........................................................................	1-1
	ART. 1.3	EFFECTIVE DATE...........................................................	1-1
	ART. 1.4	APPLICABILITY AND JURISDICTION............................	1-1
	ART. 1.5	PURPOSE AND INTENT.................................................	1-2
	ART. 1.6	COMMENTARY.................................................................	1-3
	ART. 1.7	WORD USAGE AND CONSTRUCTION OF LANGUAGE.	1-3
	ART. 1.8	MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.............................................	1-4
	ART. 1.9	CONFLICTING PROVISIONS...........................................	1-4
	ART. 1.10	ZONING MAP......................................................................	1-5
	ART. 1.11	TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.........................................	1-7
	ART. 1.12	SEVERABILITY...................................................................	1-8

CHAPTER 2 │ REVIEW AND DECISION-MAKING BODIES
	ART. 2.1	COUNTY COUNCIL............................................................	2-1
	ART. 2.2	PLANNING COMMISSION.................................................	2-1
	ART. 2.3	BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS........................................	2-2
	ART. 2.4	PLANNING DIRECTOR.......................................................	2-3

CHAPTER 3 │ DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURES
	ART. 3.1	GENERAL.............................................................................	3-1
	ART. 3.2	COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS.....................	3-7
	ART. 3.3	ZONING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS REGULATIONS TEXT AMENDMENTS.............................	3-9
	ART. 3.4	ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS [REZONINGS]..................	3-11
	ART. 3.5	PD, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICT ....	3-13
	ART. 3.6	SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS......................................................	3-13
	ART. 3.7	SITE PLAN REVIEW.............................................................	3-16
	ART. 3.8	ZONING PERMITS.................................................................	3-17
	ART. 3.9	CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY.....................................	3-22
	ART. 3.10	ZONING VARIANCES...........................................................	3-23
	ART. 3.11	WRITTEN INTERPRETATIONS...........................................	3-26
	ART. 3.12	PUBLIC PROJECT REVIEW...............................................	3-27
	ART. 3.13	APPEALS OF ZONING-RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS............................................................................	3-28
	ART. 3.14	APPEALS OF SUBDIVISION-RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS............................................................................	3-30
	ART. 3.15	ADDRESSING AND STREET NAMES...........................	3-31
	ART. 3.16	DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS....................................	3-32
	ART. 3.17	DEVELOPMENTS OF COUNTY SIGNIFICANCE..............	3-32

CHAPTER 4 │BASE ZONING DISTRICTS
	ART. 4.1	GENERAL..................................................................................	4-1
	ART. 4.2	MEASUREMENTS, COMPUTATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS...	4-2
	ART. 4.3	RM, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.........	4-7
	ART. 4.4	AG-15, AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION DISTRICT......	4-8
	ART. 4.5	AG-10, AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION DISTRICT......	4-9
	ART. 4.6	AG-8, AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION DISTRICT........	4-10
	ART. 4.7	AGR, AGRICULTURAL/RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT .............	4-11
	ART. 4.8	RR-3, RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT ..............................	4-13
	ART. 4.9	S-3, SPECIAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.........................	4-14
	ART. 4.10	R-4, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT...............	4-15
	ART. 4.11	M-8, MIXED STYLE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.................	4-16
	ART. 4.12	M-12, MIXED STYLE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT..............................	4-17
	ART. 4.13	MHS, LOW DENSITY MANUFACTURED HOUSING DISTRICT.......	4-18
	ART. 4.14	MHP, MANUFACTURED HOUSING PARK DISTRICT......	4-19
	ART. 4.15	OR, RESIDENTIAL OFFICE DISTRICT................................	4-21
	ART. 4.16	OG, GENERAL OFFICE DISTRICT......................................	4-23
	ART. 4.17	CN, NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.............	4-24
	ART. 4.18	CT, COMMERCIAL TRANSITION DISTRICT........................	4-25
	ART. 4.19	CR, RURAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT..............................	4-26
	ART. 4.20	CC, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT........................	4-27
	ART. 4.21	I, INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT..........................................................	4-28
	ART. 4.22	WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.................	4-29
	ART. 4.23	PD, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.......................	4-31

CHAPTER 5 │ OVERLAY AND SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS
	ART. 5.1	GENERAL...................................................................................	5-1
	ART. 5.2	NRM, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.	5-2
	ART. 5.3	WDU, WATER-DEPENDENT USE DISTRICT.....................	5-3
	ART. 5.4	MHC-O, MAYBANK HIGHWAY CORRIDOR OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT...	5-9
	ART. 5.5	MP-O, MOUNT PLEASANT OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT..............	5-12
	ART. 5.6	FRC-O, FOLLY ROAD CORRIDOR OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT.................	5-32
	ART. 5.7	DRC-O, DORCHESTER ROAD CORRIDOR & ASHLEY RIVER SCENIC CORRIDOR OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT.....	5-35
	ART. 5.8	MUFZ, MULTIPLE USE FLOATING ZONE......................	5-41
	ART. 5.9	UB-O UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT..............	5-45
		CHAPTER 5 MAPS ...............................................................	5-50

CHAPTER 6 │ USE REGULATIONS
	ART. 6.1	USE TABLE..............................................................................	6-1
	ART. 6.2	DEFINITIONS............................................................................	6-1
	ART. 6.3	USE TYPES.............................................................................	6-1
	ART. 6.4	USE CONDITIONS..................................................................	6-17
	ART. 6.5	ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES.........................	6-64
	ART. 6.6	TEMPORARY USES...............................................................	6-76
	ART. 6.7	SPECIAL EVENTS USE.........................................................	6-78

CHAPTER 7 │ FBZD, FORM-BASED ZONING DISTRICT
	ART. 7.1	AUTHORITY...........................................................................	7-1
	ART. 7.2	APPLICABILITY.....................................................................	7-1

CHAPTER 8 │ SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
	ART. 8.1	GENERAL...............................................................................	8-1
	ART. 8.2	PRE-APPLICATION INFORMATION...................................	8-4
	ART. 8.3	MINOR AND MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS................................	8-4
	ART. 8.4	PRELIMINARY PLAT............................................................	8-7
	ART. 8.5	FINAL PLATS........................................................................	8-13
	ART. 8.6	MARKERS.............................................................................	8-18
	ART. 8.7	LOTS.......................................................................................	8-18
	ART. 8.8	TREE PRESERVATION.......................................................	8-21
	ART. 8.9	TREES, SHRUBS, AND PAVEMENT................................	8-21
	ART. 8.10	PEDESTRIAN WAY...............................................................	8-22
	ART. 8.11	STREET NAMES, STREET SIGNS.....................................	8-23
	ART. 8.12	UNDERGROUND UTILITIES AND SERVICES..................	8-23
	ART. 8.13	WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL..................	8-23
	ART. 8.14	FINANCIAL GUARANTEES (SURETY)..............................	8-24
	ART. 8.15	RR-3 CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION....................................	8-25

CHAPTER 9 │ DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
	ART. 9.1	PURPOSE AND INTENT.....................................................	9-1
	ART. 9.2	APPLICABILITY.....................................................................	9-1
	ART. 9.3	OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING .........................	9-1
	ART. 9.4	TREE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION....................	9-15
	ART. 9.5	LANDSCAPING, SCREENING AND BUFFERS................	9-23
	ART. 9.6	ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN STANDARDS..........................................................................	9-35
	ART. 9.7	WETLANDS, WATERWAYS AND OCRM CRITICAL LINE...	9-40
	ART. 9.8	HISTORIC PRESERVATION.................................................	9-42
	ART. 9.9	TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDIES.................................................	9-42
	ART. 9.10	VISION CLEARANCE.............................................................	9-45
	ART. 9.11	SIGNS.......................................................................................	9-46
	ART. 9.12	DRAINAGE DESIGN..............................................................	9-55
		EXHIBITS.................................................................................	9-56

CHAPTER 10 │ NONCONFORMITIES
	ART. 10.1	GENERAL................................................................................	10-1
	ART. 10.2	NONCONFORMING USES...................................................	10-2
	ART. 10.3	NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES...................................	10-3
	ART. 10.4	NONCONFORMING LOTS...................................................	10-4
	ART. 10.5	NONCONFORMING SIGNS..................................................	10-5

CHAPTER 11 │ VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT
	ART. 11.1	ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE REQUIRED..........................	11-1
	ART. 11.2	VIOLATIONS............................................................................	11-1
	ART. 11.3	ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY, COMPLAINTS.........	11-2
	ART. 11.4	REMEDIES AND ENFORCEMENT POWERS...................	11-2
	ART. 11.5	PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.................................	11-3
	ART. 11.6	TREE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION VIOLATIONS ...	11-3
	ART. 11.7	SIGN VIOLATIONS...................................................................	11-5
	ART. 11.8	VIOLATIONS CONTINUES.....................................................	11-5
	ART. 11.9	OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.....................................	11-5
	ART. 11.10	DERELICT MANUFACTURED HOMES..................................	11-6

CHAPTER 12 │ DEFINITIONS
	ART. 12.1	TERMS AND USES DEFINED..............................................	12-1
	ART. 12.2	INTERPRETATION...................................................................	12-41


Appendix A* │Standard Specifications for the Design and Construction of Roads and Drainage System........................................................... Appendix A-1