Urban design requirements.
Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-283
in effectSec. 54-283. - Urban design requirements.
a. Each building must front on a thoroughfare.
b. Setback and height. Design requirements within the Gathering Place District are based upon the type of street a lot or building area abuts. Setback and height requirements, per thoroughfare type, are as follows:
Thoroughfare Type | Setback 5 | Height 1, 4 | Frontage Ratio 2
Type 1 GP Commercial Street | 0—5′ | 30′ and 2 story min. 3 65′ or 6 story max. | 85% min.
Type 2 >GP Mixed-Use Street | 0—5′ | 55′ max. 65′ max. for unoccupied architectural features or 4 story max., whichever is shorter | 85% min.
Type 3 GP Small Street | 0—10′ | 3½ stories | 70% min.
Type 4 GP One Way Street | 0—10′ | 3½ stories | 70% min.
Type 5 GP Road | 0—20′ | 35′ max. | n/a
Type 6 GP Alley | n/a | 35′ max. | n/a
Type 7 GP Avenue | 25′ min. | 65′ max. | n/a
1. The maximum height granted for properties in a FEMA flood zone shall be the height allowed per street type measured from base flood elevation, provided that the area below base flood elevation is floodproofed in nonresidential buildings. Ground floor parking shall count as a story.
2. The Frontage Ratio is the amount of building frontage as a proportion of the front property line. Utility easements, required buffers, grand trees (including grand tree protective zones), driveways and sidewalks shall be excluded from the building frontage ratio calculations.
3. All buildings fronting a Type 1 or Type 2 street must have a minimum of two occupied floors.
4. For those Gathering Place developments located with an Old City Height District, the maximum and minimum requirements for the Old City Height District shall apply instead of the maximum height requirements in this section.
5. Building setbacks shall be measured from the street right-of-way. Buildings, including attached units in a continuous row, may be sited outside the required setbacks, where necessary, for the preservation of natural features and grand trees (including grand tree protective zones) subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator.
(Ord. No. 2005-603, § 1, 10-18-05; Ord. No. 2007-156, § 2, 8-21-07)
Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/zoning?nodeId=ART2LAUSRE_PT12GAPLGPDI_S54-283URDEREFetched: 11/7/2026