Zoning & Planning

Accessory structures are allowed without a principal structure in Agricultural zoning districts. In all other zoning districts, a principal structure must be present before an accessory structure can be added to the property.

No zoning permit is required for a one-story accessory structure with a building footprint of 120 square feet or less. A zoning permit is required for any accessory structure greater than 120 square feet and/or for the placement or construction of more than one accessory structure.

In residential zoning districts and the Residential Office (RO) Zoning District, all accessory structures except garages and carports must be on the rear of the lot behind the main home or office.

A zoning permit is required prior to converting an accessory structure into an accessory dwelling unit. Only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot.

If located in the Rural Area, the Lot must have a minimum area at least 50 percent larger than the minimum area required for a Principal Structure and the heated gross floor area of the Accessory Dwelling Unit shall not exceed 1,500 square feet.

Only one Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be permitted per Lot.

Accessory Dwelling Units placement shall comply with all dimensional standards of the applicable Zoning District, as contained in CHAPTER 4, Base Zoning Districts, of this Ordinance, including all Setback, buffer, Building Coverage, Impervious Surface Coverage, height requirements, and waterfront development standards. However, Accessory Dwelling Units within Residential and Residential Office (RO) Zoning Districts in the Urban/Suburban Area shall comply with the Setback requirement of Sec. 6.5.8.B.3.

Accessory Dwelling Units placed on Parcels that contain or abut an OCRM Critical Line shall comply with the requirements of Article 4.24.2, Minimum Lot Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units on Parcels which Contain or Abut an OCRM Critical Line.

Separate electrical meters shall not be allowed for attached Accessory Dwellings Units.

ZLDR | §3.8.1 D

A zoning permit is required prior to every change in use. For example, Business A, a law office, is no longer in operation at 123 Line Drive. Before Business B, an accounting firm, begins operation at 123 Line Drive, a zoning permit must be obtained for Business B. A zoning permit is only valid for one location at a time and cannot be transferred without zoning approval. Simple rule of thumb: a zoning permit is required prior to obtaining a business license.

ZLDR | §3.8.1 A

A zoning permit is required for many activities, which may include, but are not limited to, the issuance of a building permit, the issuance of a business license, excavation activities, grading, filling, surfacing, earth disturbing activities, clearing and/or grubbing, tree removal, redirecting or altering stormwater conveyance features, changes in use, installation of signs, construction of dwelling units, and moving of dwelling units and manufactured housing units.

ZLDR | §3.8.2 C

A permit is required for the installation of any fence that is taller than six feet or is made of brick, stone, or concrete, regardless of height. A fence cannot block the view of a vehicular access to a roadway.

ZLDR | §6.5.11

Home occupations are types of work that can be conducted at home with virtually no effect on the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, home occupations must comply with a set of standards, some of which are: the operator of the home occupation must be a full-time resident in the home; hours of operation between 8AM to 8PM; one customer per hour (on average); one commercial vehicle is allowed; no exterior commercial modifications are allowed; and no signs shall be posted for the business; A zoning permit is required for a home occupation.

See ZLDR Sec. §6.5.11 for more information on home occupations including prohibited uses such as car repair/rental/sales, animal care/boarding, and medical offices/clinics.

Regulation of Weeds, Rank Vegetation, and Solid Waste

Undeveloped property is allowed to remain in its natural condition. Once a residential or commercial property is developed (i.e., no longer in its natural condition), the owner or occupant must maintain the property and not allow it to become overgrown (e.g., high grass, vines, excessive weeds, etc.).

No property, developed or undeveloped, may be used for the storage of solid waste (e.g. garbage, junk, refuse, demolition materials, etc.). The owner or occupant of the property is required to maintain the property, keep the grass cut and rid the property of solid waste as often as necessary.

A zoning permit is required for any activity that disturbs the earth including (but not limited to): clearing/grubbing, grading, filling, surfacing, drainage, road construction, driveway construction and resource extraction (mining or excavation for ponds).

Litter Control Ordinance

No person shall dump, throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter or other solid waste upon any public or private property in the Charleston County. The person responsible for littering is responsible for the removal of that litter. However, if the person responsible for littering is unknown or if there is no charge or conviction of a person for the litter violation, then the owner of the property is responsible for the removal of the litter. If litter travels by forces of nature (wind, water, etc.) onto another property, the owner of the property of origin of the litter is responsible for the removal of litter from the property.

See the link for Regulation of Weeds, Rank Vegetation, and Solid Waste under "Illegal Dumping/Solid Waste" above.

ZLDR | §6.4.24

Manufactured housing units on individual parcels are allowed in most agricultural and residential zoning districts. Some of these zoning districts include conditions that must be met in order to place a manufactured housing unit on a parcel of land (see ZLDR Sec. §6.4.24 for more information on conditions of use in the RR, S-3, R-4, and UR Zoning Districts). Note that manufactured housing parks are only allowed in the Manufactured Housing Park (MHP) Zoning District.

The applicant (an individual or company) for manufactured home zoning permits must be a state licensed manufactured home installer or transporter. The following documentation is required in order to obtain a manufactured home zoning permit: site plan (drawn to engineer's scale), approved and recorded plat, proof of public water service availability or S.C. Department of Environmental Services well approval, and proof of public sewer service availability or S.C. Department of Environmental Services septic system approval.

A nonconforming use, structure, sign or lot refers to a use, structure, sign or lot that is no longer in compliance with the current regulations, however, it was legally established under previous regulations.

See ZLDR Chapter 10, Nonconformities, for more information.

ZLDR | §6.5.13

Major recreation equipment such as recreational vehicles (RVs) cannot be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping on residential properties or outside of legally established RV parks or campgrounds.

ZLDR | §9.8.1

Zoning permits are required for most signs. See ZLDR Sec. §9.8.1, Signs, for more information.

Temporary Portable Storage Units are permitted if located on the same Lot as the Principal Structure subject to conditions. See ZLDR Sec. §6.5.17 Temporary Portable Storage Units, for more information.

Manufactured Housing Units, Modular Building Units, and Pre-Manufactured Container Units may be allowed as Accessory Structures for the purposes of Permanent Storage Units in the AGR, AG-8, AG-10, AG-15, RM, CC, RI, and IN Zoning Districts provided they comply with the provisions of ZLDR Sec. §6.5.17 subsections B, E, H, and I.

ZLDR | §9.2

Please contact the Charleston County Zoning & Planning Department prior to removing or encroaching upon any trees on your property. A Grand Tree is defined as any Tree with a diameter breast height of 24 inches or greater, with the exception of Pine Tree and Sweet Gum Tree species. A Protected Tree is defined as any Tree on a Parcel with a Diameter Breast Height of eight inches or greater prior to Development, and all Trees within required buffers or required landscape areas or any Tree within a Scenic Road Right-of-Way with a Diameter Breast Height of six inches or greater prior to Development.

See ZLDR Art. §9.2 Tree Protection and Preservation, for more information.

ZLDR | §6.5.14

The open storage and/ or repair of Inoperable Motor Vehicles is not permitted within the required Front Setback.

Inoperable Motor Vehicles must be screened by a Fence, Wall, Building, or vegetative buffer that completely shields the vehicles from view off-site.

The storage and/or repair of more than two Inoperable Motor Vehicles is prohibited on all Lots in Suburban Residential Zoning Districts, as well as in all Office, commercial, and industrial Zoning Districts unless legally permitted for use as a salvage yard pursuant to this Ordinance.

In all Suburban Residential Zoning Districts, storage of Motor Vehicle parts is allowed only within a completely enclosed Accessory Structure located on the same Lot as the Principal Dwelling Unit.