Charleston County, SC Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)
Tiny home rules in Charleston County, SC, covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds, determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Key Facts
- Tiny-home ordinance
- None specific
- Permanent small dwelling
- Treated as ADU (Sec. 6.5.9)
- Manufactured unit (Ag)
- Caretaker's quarters only
- Temporary unit removal
- 30 days after C.O.
- Tiny home on wheels
- Treated as an RV
Summary
Charleston County has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A tiny home on a permanent foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit or principal dwelling; a manufactured unit is limited to caretaker's quarters in Agricultural districts or temporary use during construction.
In Agricultural Zoning Districts, a Manufactured Housing Unit may be used for one caretaker's quarters. It shall not be permitted for other than residential use unless authorized elsewhere in this Ordinance. ... Such a temporary unit shall be removed from the premises within 30 days of issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the permanent Structure.
Full Breakdown
The county ZLDR does not use the term tiny home. A small permanent detached dwelling is regulated as an accessory dwelling unit under Sec. 6.5.9 (one per lot, Rural-Area 1,500 sq ft cap, full setbacks). Manufactured Housing Units are governed by Sec. 6.5.10: in Agricultural districts one may be used for a caretaker's quarters, and a unit may be placed temporarily while a permanent structure is under construction (with a zoning permit) but must be removed within 30 days of the Certificate of Occupancy. Movable tiny homes on wheels are RVs, not dwellings, and cannot be used as permanent housing outside a licensed RV park. Municipalities apply their own rules.
Violations & Fines
Using a manufactured or movable unit as an unpermitted permanent dwelling is a zoning violation enforced under ZLDR Chapter 11; temporary construction units not removed on time are also cited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in a tiny home on my land?
Are manufactured units allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
Compare Charleston County to another location·View the South Carolina accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.