Definitions.

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 27-134

in effect

Sec. 27-134. - Definitions. Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meanings of words and terms used in this article shall be as set forth in S.C. Land Resources Conservation Commission, Regulation 72-301, (Supp. 1992), mutatis mutandis. Base rate shall mean the annual stormwater management utility fee charged per equivalent residential unit at an annual rate of one hundred thirty-two dollars ($132.00). Condominium property shall mean the developed property that serves the primary purpose of providing permanent condominium units and their collectively owned common elements. Condominium units shall mean an individually owned parcel in a multi-unit developed property where unit owners collectively own common elements such as parking, lobby grounds, and similar features. Developed property shall mean real property, which has been altered from its natural state by the addition of any improvements such as buildings, structures, or other impervious surface area. Dwelling unit shall mean a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one (1) family, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. Equivalent residential unit shall mean the total impervious area of a typical single-family residential property; and is defined as the median impervious area of a representative sample of all residential properties in the flat rate single-family category. The equivalent residential unit is two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet. Fee shall mean the annual amount charged to a property owner for the services provided by the stormwater management utility. Impervious surface area shall mean a surface which is compacted or covered with material that is resistant to infiltration by water, including, but not limited to, most conventional surfaced streets, roofs, sidewalks, parking lots, and other similar structures. Non-residential property shall mean developed property that is not single-family residential property or condominium property. Such property shall include, but not be limited to, multi-family residential properties (other than condominium units), commercial properties, industrial properties, parking lots, recreational, institutional and cultural facilities, hotels, offices, and churches. Private stormwater management facilities are those facilities that are not dedicated for public conveyance of stormwater, nor have they been accepted for maintenance by the city as part of the public stormwater system. Public stormwater management system includes stormwater management facilities that have been dedicated and accepted for public use and maintenance by the city. Revenues shall mean all fees, assessments or other income received by the stormwater management utility, including but not limited to, amounts received from the investment or deposit of monies in any fund or account and all amounts received as gifts, donations and the proceeds from the sale of bonds to finance the stormwater management program. Self-contained stormwater management facilities shall mean stormwater management facilities that: (1) accept stormwater drainage in such a way as to have no impact on other city owned or city maintained drainage facilities or drainage activities of the city, as determined by the director of stormwater management or their designee; and (2) are not connected on the inlet or outlet side of any city-owned or city-maintained stormwater management facility. Single-family residential property shall mean property designated as a single parcel on the Berkeley or Charleston County tax maps, containing only one (1) principal dwelling unit and that does not share a ceiling or floor with another dwelling unit. The presence of an accessory dwelling unit does not disqualify a property from this classification. Stormwater management facilities may include ditches, swales, channels, canals, ponds, lakes, pipes, culverts, grates, weirs, inlets, outlets and other structures that exist for the collection, storage, conveyance and treatment of stormwater runoff. Undeveloped property, for purposes of this article, shall mean any residential or non-residential property that has less than ten (10) percent of the equivalent residential unit of impervious surface area or any property operating solely as a cemetery without a colocated additional use. Utility customer shall mean the person or entity that is the property owner, and such person or entity shall receive the annual billing for the stormwater management utility fee. (Ord. No. 2007-158, § 2, 8-21-07; Ord. No. 2008-58, § 3, 4-8-08; Ord. No. 2015-187, § 1, 12-15-15; Ord. No. 2018-150, § 3, 11-27-18; Ord. No. 2025-083, § 1, 6-17-25)

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_CH27STMAFLCO_ARTIIISTMAUT_S27-134DEFetched: 11/7/2026