Zoning & Planning

Responsibilities

The Zoning & Planning Department administers the County's Comprehensive Plan ordinance (ten-year update adopted by County Council on November 18, 2008, as amended) and the Zoning and Land Development Regulations ordinance (adopted by County Council on Nov. 20, 2001 as amended) and prepares various studies and plans related to the current and future use of land in Charleston County. This Department serves as the professional and technical staff for the County Planning Commission, which is an advisory body to County Council, as well as for the County Board of Zoning Appeals and County Historic Preservation Commission. The Zoning & Planning Department also serves as the professional and technical staff for the Town of Rockville.

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

Administration of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the County;
Processing of Zoning Permit and other approval applications pursuant to the Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance;
Enforcement of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance, including tree protection, and the County’s Environmental Management regulations;
Research and expertise regarding the County's planning and zoning processes; and
Provide technical planning assistance and zoning permitting to the Town of Rockville, and subdivision review services for the Town of Ravenel.

Monthly Subdivision Reports

Recorded Plats

Subdivision Applications

Special Events Application Package

These are the documents needed in order to submit an application for a Special Event Permit in Charleston County's unincorporated area. Fill out and return packet in person to the Zoning & Planning Department, located on the first floor of the Public Services Building, at 4045 Bridge View Dr. in North Charleston.

Special Events Packet

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answer:If your property is within the jurisdiction of Charleston County, you can find the zoning by using the GIS online service.

You can also call or visit the Planning Department to find out the zoning classification for your property and what regulations apply. The municipalities in the County also have planning and zoning regulations and you should contact them directly.

Answer:The Zoning & Planning Department ensures that a plat meets subdivision and zoning requirements.

In addition, this Department ensures that building plans comply with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control's drainage and septic tank regulations and meet accessibility requirements.

Answer:First, contact the Zoning & Planning Department to determine if it is possible to do so based on the size of the lot and current zoning.

If it is possible to subdivide the property, you should schedule a pre-application conference with staff to review what you want to do prior to expending a lot of time, money and effort in the plan that may not work. You can subdivide property according to the procedures contained in Chapter 8 of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations ordinance.

Once the plat is reviewed and approved by Charleston County, it is then recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds (ROD).

Answer:You should contact the Zoning & Planning Department to set up a pre-application meeting regarding re-zoning of a property.

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.

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.

Common Terms

Plat:: A drawing of the property that is drawn to scale showing all essential data pertaining to the boundaries and subdivisions of a tract of land, as determined by a survey. A plat must be prepared, signed and sealed by a registered professional land surveyor licensed by the state of South Carolina. Note: A plat must be approved by a governmental entity and recorded by the Register of Mesne Conveyance (RMC).
Site Plan:: An engineer's scaled-size drawing of a parcel, showing the location of proposed and existing structures.

Internships

The Zoning & Planning Department offers unpaid 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
Summer Internship Application Deadline April
Fall Internship Application Deadline July

Locate Browser Version

Responsibilities

Contact

Functions

Monthly Subdivision Reports

Recorded Plats

Subdivision Applications

Special Events Application Package

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I find out what zoning regulations pertain to a piece of property?

What role does the Zoning & Planning Department play in the construction of new buildings?

I have a large lot and would like to cut off a portion to give to my son/daughter. What steps do I take?

If I want to change the zoning on my property, what should I do?

What role does the Zoning & Planning Department play in the development of commercial, office or multi-family projects?

History

Common Terms

Internships