Overlay zones.

Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-202

in effect

Sec. 54-202. - Overlay zones. a. Accommodations, A Overlay Zone. The A Overlay Zone is intended to identify those areas within the City limits where accommodation uses are allowed. Accommodation uses are prohibited except within the A Overlay Zone, with the exception of bed and breakfasts that are approved in accordance with the provisions of Section 54-208. b. Tour Boat, TB Overlay Zone. The TB Overlay Zone is used only on the peninsula area of Charleston to identify waterfront areas suitable for the operation of tour boats. c. Johns Island, JI Overlay Zone. The JI Overlay Zone applies to all areas of Johns Island within the City limits. Within the JI Overlay Zone, additional restrictions may apply depending on the underlying base zoning district and the specific use. Restrictions of the JI Overlay Zone which are incorporated into the applicable sections of this Chapter include street frontage buffers, buffers for industrial uses, sign regulations, and curb cut requirements. d. Amusement and Recreation Services, AR Overlay Zone. The AR Overlay Zone applies to all areas of peninsula section of the city as bounded by the Ashley River, the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor. e. Savannah Highway SH Overlay Zone. The SH Overlay Zone is intended to allow office and neighborhood service uses in addition to the uses allowed in the base zoning district. Existing structures in the SH zone that are used for a non-residential use shall retain their residential appearance. Building additions and new structures shall be designed to look like the existing residential structures. Parking shall be restricted to the side or rear of the principal buildings and buffering from adjoining residential lots shall be required. f. School S Overlay Zone. The S Overlay Zone is intended to identify those areas within residential zoning districts where school uses are allowed. School uses are prohibited within residential zoning districts except within the S Overlay Zone. g. Landmark LMK Overlay Zone. The Landmark Overlay Zone is intended to effect and accomplish the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of structures or other improvements that have a special character or special historical, cultural, or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, state or nation or that are associated with an event of importance to the history of the city, state or nation, or that reflect the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style or that embodies those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen. h. Short Term Rental, ST Overlay Zone. The Short Term Overlay Zone is intended to permit commercial short term rentals, as defined herein, in specific base zoning districts within the ST Overlay Zone and Bed and Breakfasts, as defined herein, in all base zoning districts within the ST Overlay Zone. i. General Business Late Night, GBLN Overlay Zone. The General Business Late Night Overlay Zone is intended to restrict certain uses, as specified herein, to only operate between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. j. Light Industrial Late Night, LILN Overlay Zone. The Light Industrial Late Night Overlay Zone is intended to restrict certain uses, as specified herein, to only operate between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. k. Tech Corridor, TC Overlay Zone. The Tech Corridor Overlay Zone is intended to enable high technology and technology-related industries to anchor new development in the district. l. Gateway, G Overlay Zone. The Gateway Overlay Zone is intended for sites in the City that are located at primary entrances to specifically defined or colloquially known districts and areas of the City. The purpose of the Gateway Overlay is to accommodate a more varied use matrix at these strategic locations by providing an opportunity for denser residential developments at commercially zoned properties by way of an optional set of development regulations that authorize higher residential density, and impose lot coverage requirements and certain height restrictions. m. Folly Road, FR Overlay Zone. The Folly Road Overlay Zone is intended to implement traffic safety measures, to improve the visual character of the corridor, and to create consistency between the City of Charleston and surrounding jurisdictions concerning land use and design standards. n. Special Parking District, SPD Overlay Zone. See Section 54-511.c. (Ord. No. 1996-125, § 4, 7-16-96; Ord. No. 1998-112, § 1, 5-26-98; Ord. No. 1999-01, § 1, 1-12-99; Ord. No. 1999-95, § 1, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 2006-428, § 5, 9-26-06; Ord. No. 2006-463, § 2, 10-17-06; Ord. No. 2012-41, § 1, 1-24-12; Ord. No. 2014-08, § 1, 1-30-14; Ord. No. 2014-37, § 1, 3-25-14; Ord. No. 2015-060, § 2, 5-26-2015; Ord. No. 2016-079, § 1, 7-19-16; Ord. No. 2017-148, § 1, 12-11-17; Ord. No. 2018-043, § 5, 4-10-18; Ord. No. 2021-092, § 2, 7-20-21)

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_PT1DEBAZODIOVZO_S54-202OVZOFetched: 11/7/2026