GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance art. 9, pt. 1

in effect

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-901 Zoning administrator as administrative officer; inspections; enforcing agents.

Sec. 54-901. - Zoning administrator as administrative officer; inspections; enforcing agents. The duty to administer and to enforce the provisions of this Chapter is hereby conferred upon the zoning administrator, herein referred to as the administrative officer of the Zoning Ordinance. The city building inspector shall inspect all construction or alteration for which permits are issued by the city engineer or as authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals or as authorized by the Board of Architectural Review, as hereinafter provided, and shall make a weekly report in writing to the city engineer's office, listing all construction inspected and specifying any work observed by him which is not in accordance with permits issued, or which violates this chapter or any other ordinance of the city. The officers and patrolmen of the police department, so far as is practicable, shall inspect daily all construction in progress in the city, and shall report promptly to the chief of police who shall advise the city engineer's office of any construction whereon is not displayed a building permit, as required by ordinance. Any person to whom a building permit is issued shall notify the city engineer's office in writing, twenty-four hours before commencing work of the exact day upon which he intends to begin construction or alteration, so that the proper inspections can be made. The city electrician, before authorizing the increase of electric meters on any premises or the cutting in of electrical current to be used directly or indirectly for the purposes of lighting or operating signs, shall consult with the administrative officer and see that the application has been approved for additional dwelling units or the application for signs has been applied for and granted as required by this Chapter. The plumbing inspector, before authorizing the installation of additional sinks or bathrooms, shall consult with the administrative officer and see that the necessary application permits have been granted as required by this Chapter. (Ord. No. 1999-54, § 4, 4-27-99)

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-902 Duty of corporation counsel as to enforcement.

Sec. 54-902. - Duty of corporation counsel as to enforcement. It shall be the duty of the corporation counsel, upon instructions of the mayor or by resolution of council, to bring suit in the name of the city to enjoin any use of land, alteration or demolition of any building or structure or erection of any building or structure in conflict with the provisions of this chapter.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-903 Building permit a prerequisite to work.

Sec. 54-903. - Building permit a prerequisite to work. A building permit issued by the administrative officer is required in advance of construction, erection, moving or alteration or demolition of any building or structure. In cases involving necessary action by the Board of Zoning Appeals or Board of Architectural Review as provided elsewhere herein, such action shall be complied with before issuance of a building permit by the administrative officer. No excavation for foundation nor the erection, construction or structural alteration of any structure or part of a structure, or occupancy of streets or alleys with building materials or temporary structures for construction purposes, shall be undertaken until a permit therefor shall have been issued by the administrative officer. (Ord. No. 1999-54, § 4, 4-27-99)

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-904 Procedure when enforcement or interpretation questioned; appeals to court.

Sec. 54-904. - Procedure when enforcement or interpretation questioned; appeals to court. It is the intent of this Chapter that all questions arising in connection with the enforcement or interpretation of this Chapter, except as otherwise expressly provided, shall be presented to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and, that from decisions of the Board of Zoning Appeals, recourse shall be to the courts as provided by law. (Ord. No. 1999-54, § 4, 4-27-99)

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-905 Remedies for violations.

Sec. 54-905. - Remedies for violations. Whenever a building or structure is demolished, erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this Chapter, the city engineer or any other appropriate authority, or any property owner, who would be damaged by such violations, in addition to other remedies, may institute injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate action in proceeding to prevent the violation in the case of such building, structure or land.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-906 Building permits; plat and plans required.

Sec. 54-906. - Building permits; plat and plans required. a. All applications for building permits shall be accompanied by a plat in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions of each lot to be built upon, the size and location of each building to be erected upon each lot, and such other information as may be necessary to enable the administrative officer to determine that the proposed structure and use of land will conform to the provisions of this Chapter. A record of such applications and plats shall be kept in the office of the administrative officer. b. Applications for building permits in connection with property located in Old and Historic Charleston Districts shall be accompanied by such plans, elevations and other information required under Article 2: Part 6, of this Chapter.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-907 Certificate of appropriateness.

Sec. 54-907. - Certificate of appropriateness. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the administrative officer shall not issue a building permit or certificate of occupancy in connection with property development within Old and Historic Charleston Districts unless and until the requirements of Article 2: Part 6, of this Chapter have been complied with and certificate of appropriateness has been endorsed on the application.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-908 Certificate of occupancy.

Sec. 54-908. - Certificate of occupancy. a. No vacant land shall be occupied or used and no structure hereafter erected, structurally altered or changed in use, until a certificate of occupancy shall have been approved by the administrative officer. b. No alteration or change in general line, texture, material or color of any building or structure located within Old and Historic Charleston Districts shall be undertaken until a permit therefor shall have been issued by the administrative officer. c. A certificate of occupancy, either for the whole or a part of a new building or for alteration of an existing building shall be applied for coincident with the application for a building permit and shall be issued within ten (10) days after the erection or alteration of such building or part shall have been completed in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter. d. A certificate of occupancy for a change in the use of land, or for a change in the use or the number of family units of an existing building, shall be applied for and issued before any such land shall be occupied or used, or such land or building changed, in use, and such certificate shall be issued within ten (10) days after application has been made, provided such proposed use is in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter including the off-street parking requirements of Article 3: Part 4. e. A like certificate shall be applied for and issued for renewing, changing or extending a non-conforming use, existing at the time of the passage of this Chapter, and such certificate shall state that the use is a legal non-conforming use. f. A record of all certificates of occupancy shall be kept on file in the office of the administrative officer and a copy shall be furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenancy interest in the building or land affected. g. No fee shall be charged for an original certificate of occupancy as required herein; but for each copy of an original certificate there shall be a charge of one dollar, which shall be remitted to the city treasurer by the issuing officer.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-909 Permit limitations; failure to commence work.

Sec. 54-909. - Permit limitations; failure to commence work. If after the issuance of a permit the operations authorized thereunder are not commenced within six (6) months after date of permit, or if after the commencement of operations the work is discontinued for a period of six (6) months, such permit shall be void, work may not again be commenced until a new permit shall have been issued as for the original work, and building materials and equipment on the ground shall be removed or stored according to the requirements of the administrative officer.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-910 Interpretation and purpose of chapter.

Sec. 54-910. - Interpretation and purpose of chapter. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this Chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of health, safety, morals or general welfare. Where this Chapter imposes greater restrictions upon the use of a building or land or upon the height, bulk or size of a building or structure or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by other ordinances, rules, regulations or permits, or by easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this Chapter shall govern. Where any other ordinances, rules, regulations or permits, or any easements, covenants or agreements impose greater restrictions upon the use of a building or land or require larger open spaces than are required under the regulations of this Chapter, such provisions shall govern.

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=ART9ADEN_PT1GEADENFetched: 11/7/2026