Adoption of ordinances and resolutions proposed by a councilmember, standing committee or appointed board or commission.
Charleston, S.C., City Code § 2-24
in effectSec. 2-24. - Adoption of ordinances and resolutions proposed by a councilmember, standing committee or appointed board or commission.
(a) A councilmember may bring a proposed ordinance or resolution forward to city council by requesting a discussion item under "Council Communications" on the city council agenda. A majority of city council may then direct staff to draft the proposed ordinance or resolution to be considered by the appropriate standing committee. The standing committee's action on the proposed ordinance and resolution will be reported out to city council at the subsequent city council meeting where city council will have the option of giving the ordinance a first reading or approving the resolution. Should there be no appropriate committee for assignment, a majority of council may direct staff to draft proposed legislation for discussion and/or consideration at a subsequent meeting. This process will not apply to resolutions proposed by councilmembers that are intended to honor individuals and do not require the city to adopt a policy or position on a specific issue.
(b) Any proposed ordinance originating from a standing committee or appointed board or commission, shall be presented to council for first reading at the regularly scheduled meeting after a two-week review period. This subsection does not apply to ordinances generated from ways and means committee, ordinances proposed by city staff or any emergency ordinance. Any proposed resolution from a standing committee or appointed board or commission shall be presented to council for consideration after a two-week review period. This subsection does not apply to resolutions generated from ways and means committee, resolutions proposed by city staff or any emergency resolutions.
(c) A proposed ordinance and resolution shall be introduced in writing and in the form required for final adoption. City council shall by ordinance establish its own rules and procedures to the adoption of ordinances and resolutions. No ordinance shall have the force of law until it has been read three (3) times and in conformance with the procedures set forth in section 2-46. Further, any ordinance providing for the adoption of the annual city budget shall be presented to city councilmembers at least two (2) weeks prior to its first reading.
(d) The city council may adopt any standard code or technical regulation by reference thereto in the adopting ordinance. The procedure and requirements governing such ordinance shall be as prescribed by state law. Copies of any ordinance adopting a code of technical regulations shall be made available by the municipal clerk for distribution or for purchase at a reasonable price.
(Ord. No. 1977-71, § 1, 11-8-77; Ord. No. 1998-01, § 1, 1-13-98; Ord. No. 2023-035, § 1, 2-14-23; Ord. No. 2026-066, § 1, 3-24-26)
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/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH2AD_ARTIICICO_DIV1GE_S2-24ADORREPRCOSTCOAPBOCOFetched: 11/7/2026