Charleston's Filming & Production: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles filming & production a little differently. In Charleston, South Carolina, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Location Permits

Charleston requires a special events permit before any commercial film, commercial, or fashion photography shoot on public streets, sidewalks, trails or other public property. The special events committee, not a separate film office, reviews and issues the permit. Applications for a commercial film or photography event must be filed at least three days, or seventy-two hours, before the shoot so the committee has time to review location and route.

Key details: Permit required: Special events permit from the Special Events Committee. Filing deadline: At least 72 hours (3 days) before the shoot. Governing definition: City Code § 2-187, commercial film/photographic event. Reviewing body: 11-member Special Events Committee, Dept. of Livability & Tourism. Interior exemption: Old Exchange Building, Maritime Center, Gaillard Auditorium.

Filming on city streets, sidewalks or other public property without an approved special events permit violates § 2-192 and is subject to the general penalty in § 2-194: a fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of unpermitted filming a separate offense. The committee can also revoke an issued permit under § 2-190 for violating its conditions and can withhold any security deposit under § 2-189(m).

Street Closures

A film production that needs to close or control a Charleston street must build that into its special events application: § 2-189(b)(5) requires a traffic control plan, and the committee can condition the permit on specific route, timing and duration limits to protect other traffic and previously scheduled uses of the right-of-way.

Key details: Traffic control plan: Required in site-plan package, § 2-189(b)(5). Approval standard: Adequate traffic/parking management, § 2-189(j)(4). Committee power: Can adjust route, time, duration, § 2-189(k)(4). Filing deadline: 72 hours (3 days) before the shoot. Penalty: Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail, per day.

Closing or blocking a Charleston street for filming without an approved traffic control plan and permit violates § 2-192, subject to the § 2-194 general penalty of up to $500 or 30 days in jail, or both, per day of the unpermitted closure, and can result in forfeiture of the production's security deposit under § 2-189(m).

The Bottom Line

Charleston's filming & production rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Charleston is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Charleston's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.