Charleston's Public Health Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public health rules 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.

Syringe Disposal

Charleston requires syringes and sharps to be disposed of per SCDHEC procedures, sealed in a labeled hard container marked WARNING: NEEDLES, with two to three inches of headspace, and placed last and clearly visible atop the garbage for collection crews.

Key details: Container type: Hard plastic or metal, sealed. Required label: WARNING: NEEDLES!, 3/8-inch letters. Headspace required: 2-3 inches below rim. Container placement: Last item, visible to crew. Standard incorporated: SCDHEC sharps disposal procedures.

Sec. 14-50 does not state its own fine, so the citywide general penalty in Sec. 1-16 applies to a violation of the sharps disposal rule: up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. Sharps placed loose in the trash, in an unlabeled container, or buried under other garbage where a crew cannot see them fall outside the required procedure and expose the resident to that general penalty.

Rodent Control

Charleston places responsibility for rodent extermination on the property owner whenever an infestation results from a failure to keep a dwelling in rodent-proof condition, under City Code Section 7-116(k). The same section requires basement hatchways to be built and maintained to keep rodents, rain and surface water out of the dwelling.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Section 7-116(k). Trigger: Owner failure to keep dwelling rodent-proof. Related duty: Rodent-proof basement hatchways, Section 7-116(e). Related duty: Grading to prevent standing water, Section 7-116(c). Inspecting officer: Public safety and housing officer.

An owner who lets a dwelling become infested through failure to keep it rodent-proof is in violation of Section 7-116(k), and letting or occupying a dwelling that fails the exterior or interior standards of Section 7-116 is separately unlawful; absent a specific fine, City Code Section 1-16's general penalty of up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail applies, with continued violations a new offense each day.

The Bottom Line

Charleston's public health rules 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.

Keep in mind that Charleston can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.