Whether you can keep chickens or livestock depends on your zoning district under the Charleston County Zoning & Land Development Regulations (ZLDR). Agricultural and rural districts (AGR and sea-island rural) allow farm animals; suburban residential districts generally do not.
Charleston County directly zones unincorporated land under the ZLDR, administered by the Zoning & Planning Department. Agricultural Residential (AGR) and rural/agricultural districts permit chickens, poultry, and livestock as of-right, often with no numeric flock cap for personal use, subject to nuisance and health rules. Denser residential districts restrict or prohibit farm animals. Because rules turn entirely on your parcel's zoning classification, the county sets no single countywide number; confirm your district with the Zoning & Planning Department before adding animals. Sea-island and rural Lowcountry parcels are typically the most permissive.
Keeping livestock in a district that prohibits it is a zoning violation enforced by Charleston County Code Enforcement; abatement notices and daily penalties can apply until the use is removed.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Charleston County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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