Charleston, S.C., City Code ch. 2, art. XII, div. 1 — GENERALLY | Code of the City of Charleston, South Carolina (Supp. No. 115: codified through Ordinance No. 2026-092, enacted May 26, 2026) — City of Charleston

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 2-391 Establishment.

Sec. 2-391. - Establishment. There is hereby established a department to be known as the department of livability and tourism. (Ord. No. 2015-164, § 2, 11-10-15)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 2-392 Duties and responsibilities of department.

Sec. 2-392. - Duties and responsibilities of department. The department shall be charged with providing direction, leadership and general oversight and enforcement of property maintenance within the city, including substandard structures, code enforcement programs and the enforcement of the city's tourism and special events activities, and shall interpret and ensure compliance with a variety of municipal codes and state statutes by performing the following duties: (a) Facilitate the development of strategy and policy in collaboration with the mayor's office and other city departments to protect the safety, health, welfare and quality of life for its citizens. (b) Provide leadership on a broad range of quality of life and tourism ordinances, community organizing and revitalization efforts that impact the city. (c) Exercise the authority to enforce the Code of the City of Charleston and state statutes enforceable by the city, including overseeing the enforcement of the provisions of chapter 29. (d) Implement the activities subscribed by the tourism commission with related commercial activities, neighborhood organizations and appropriate civic groups. (e) Make an annual report to city council, the mayor and the tourism commission on the activities of this office regarding tourism, the tourism commission and the state of tourism in the city. (f) Mitigate code violations, including but not limited to, substandard or unsafe structures, trash and garbage violations, overgrown lots, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, tourism and special events. (g) Coordinate with the city's special events committee to ensure that the requirements outlined on approved special events permits are carried out in accordance with the city ordinance and enforced as necessary. (h) Advise the mayor on tourism, tourism management and special events-related issues and with the mayor's input, advise city council and the tourism commission on matters that affect tourism management in the city. (i) Oversee the enforcement of tourism-related ordinances as set forth in chapter 29 of the Code of the City of Charleston. (j) Proactively identify neighborhoods and communities where the physical environment can be improved through a unified approach to code enforcement. (k) Ensure that department staff is adequately trained and is consistently enforcing the Code of the City of Charleston. (1) Increase citizen participation in neighborhood revitalization through community outreach and education of the public. (m) Develop and ensure proper execution of the department's budget. (n) Provide direction in the day-to day administration of the department, including the budget, personnel management, employee development and growth. (o) Prepare reports and communicate the results of code enforcement violations and neighborhood revitalization efforts to the mayor and the public. (p) Supervise all assigned full and part-time department personnel. (q) Operate computer and use applicable software to perform research, identify trends and report on code enforcement activities. (r) Ensure quality service to customers through a user-friendly notification and remediation process. (s) Oversee the identification, research and application of potential grant opportunities. (t) Collect and analyze pertinent data, identify trends and formulate strategies to improve compliance with community standards. (u) Oversee the economic development and business and neighborhood services division to provide business services, including the fostering of business and job development, expansion of the city's economic base through the local development corporation activities, central business district projects, suburban projects and industrial and corporate recruitment, business recruitment services; and (v) Provide support to the neighborhood councils throughout the city. (Ord. No. 2015-164, § 3, 11-10-15; Ord. No. 2025-022, § 1, 2-25-25)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 2-393 Administration; duties of director.

Sec. 2-393. - Administration; duties of director. The management, administration, direction and control of the department of livability and tourism shall be under the supervision of the director of livability and tourism, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of city council. (Ord. No. 2015-164, § 4, 11-10-15)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 2-394 Appointment of personnel.

Sec. 2-394. - Appointment of personnel. The director of livability and tourism shall have the power to hire, with the approval of the mayor, such personnel in such positions as are provided for in the budget of the department of livability and tourism as approved by city council. (Ord. No. 2015-164, § 5, 11-10-15)