Responsibilities

The Zoning & Planning Department administers the County's Comprehensive Plan ordinance (adopted by County Council on April 20, 1999, as amended) and the Zoning and Land Development Regulations ordinance (adopted by County Council on November 20, 2001, as amended) and prepares various studies and plans related to the current and future use of land in Charleston County. The Department serves as the professional and technical planning staff for County Council, as well as for the County Planning Commission, County Board of Zoning Appeals and County Historic Preservation Commission. The Department also serves as the professional and technical planning staff for the Town of Rockville.

  • Processing of reviews, updates and amendments to the County's Comprehensive Plan;
  • Process applications for: zoning permits, subdivision of land, rezonings, planned developments, development agreements, variance requests, special exception requests, site plan review, Zoning & Land Development Regulations Ordinance text amendments, Comprehensive Plan amendments, Certificates of Historic Appropriateness, Designations of Historic Properties and Districts, and appeals of zoning and subdivision related administrative decisions;
  • Assist in region-wide planning;
  • Enforce County ordinances related to land use, development, environmental management and tree protection;
  • Plan for the protection of the County's natural and man-made environments;
  • Plan for the efficient and attractive future development of Charleston County;
  • Provide support and expertise to members of County Council, the Charleston County Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Historic Preservation Commission, and to other departments of County Government as well as to the public;
  • Maintain records of annexations within the County;
  • Assist municipalities in preparing comprehensive plans and land development regulations, as requested; and
  • Provide technical design services for County Capital Improvement projects.

Contact

Zoning & Planning

Lonnie Hamilton, III, Public Services Building

4045 Bridge View Dr., N. Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: (843) 202-7200

Fax: (843) 202-7222

Office Hours: M – F | 8AM – 5PM

Department Emails

Board of Zoning Appeals: BZA@CharlestonCounty.org

Code Enforcement: CodeEnforcement@CharlestonCounty.org

Historic Preservation Commission: CCHPC@CharlestonCounty.org

Permitting: ZoningPermits@CharlestonCounty.org

Planning Commission: CCPC@CharlestonCounty.org

Short-Term Rentals: ShortTermRental@CharlestonCounty.org

Site Plan Review: SitePlanReview@CharlestonCounty.org

Subdivision: Subdivision@CharlestonCounty.org

Trees: Trees@CharlestonCounty.org

General Questions/Concerns: Planning@CharlestonCounty.org

Functions

Monthly Subdivision Reports

Recorded Plats

Subdivision Applications

Special Events Application Package

The County's Special Events regulations can be found in Art. 6.7, Special Events Use, of the ZLDR. If you plan to have a Temporary Special Event, please contact our office at (843) 202-7200 or via email at Planning@CharlestonCounty.org to find out if you need a permit. If a Temporary Special Events permit is required, you will need to complete the Temporary Special Events Application Packet and submit it to our office.

The Special Event Application Packet is being updated and will be made available when completed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answer:The Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance only applies to unincorporated properties.

You can find out if your property is unincorporated by using the GIS online service or contacting us at (843) 202-7200 or via email at Planning@CharlestonCounty.org. If your property is unincorporated, you can also the GIS online service to identify in which zoning district the property is located (or contact us for assistance). The Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance contains the zoning and land development regulations that apply to unincorporated properties. Please contact our staff with any questions.

Answer: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 other structures, and moving of dwelling units and manufactured housing units.

See ZLDR Sec. 3.8.1 for additional information.

Answer:Contact us at Subdivision@CharlestonCounty.org or (843) 202-7200 to schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss the subdivision process, which is contained in Chapter 8, Subdivision Regulations, of the Zoning & Land Development Regulations Ordinance.

Answer:Contact us at CCPC@CharlestonCounty.org or (843) 202-7200 to schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss the rezoning process, which is contained in Art. 3.4, Zoning Map Amendments [Rezonings], of the Zoning & Land Development Regulations Ordinance.

Answer:The Zoning & Planning Department coordinates the Site Plan Review process involving County, state and local agencies.

This "one stop shopping" concept allows the developer one point of contact for the project. Contact us at SitePlanReview@CharlestonCounty.org or (843) 202-7200 to schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss the site plan review process, which is contained in Art. 3.7, Site Plan Review, of the Zoning & Land Development Regulations Ordinance.

History

On March 14, 1942, the S.C. General Assembly passed the County Planning Act, permitting Charleston County to create a Planning Board. A month later, the Board of Commissioners appointed members to the board. On January 3, 1943, the commissioners hired a Planning Technician/Director. By March 24, 1943, the County Board of Commissioners approved the Planning Board's recommendations for an interim zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations and regulations for tourist courts and trailer camps. On December 27, 1944, the Commissioners created the Board of Adjustment and appointed its members.

In June 1945, the Legislative Delegation, who at the time controlled the County's fiscal activities, declined funding for continuation of the Planning Board's activities. The Planning Director and Assistant Director resigned, leaving no administrative entity to enforce planning legislation.

Upon recommendation of the Chairman of the Planning Board Advisory Committee, in 1953 County Council created the Planning Department to write and administer the County's Subdivision Ordinance, which was adopted in 1955. Enabling legislation passed by the S.C. General Assembly authorized adoption of this ordinance and subsequent zoning ordinances.

The Planning Act of 1994 mandated that by May 3, 1999, all South Carolina counties must bring plans and zoning ordinances into conformity with the provisions of the act. This law specifies how local governments must organize their planning commissions and boards of zoning appeals, processes applications and enforces ordinances. It also requires each Planning Commission to develop comprehensive plans with public participation and make recommendations to the local governing bodies. Charleston County adopted the first Comprehensive Plan for the County on April 20, 1999 and adopted the 10 year update of the Plan on November 18, 2008. The County's Zoning and Land Development Regulations ordinance was adopted on November 20, 2001, and amended accordingly.

Internships

The Zoning & Planning Department offers internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate level students, as well as recent graduates, to gather experience in the fields of planning and local government. Internships may be done for college credit.

Download the current internship ad for more information.

Internship Ad
  • Spring Internship Application Deadline November 30
  • Summer Internship Application Deadline April 15
  • Fall Internship Application Deadline July 31