Filming & Production in Charleston, SC (2026)
2 verified filming & production rules for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Charleston Commercial Filming Location Permits
Some RestrictionsCharleston City Code §§ 2-187, 2-189(a)
Commercial film/photographic event means movies, commercials, or fashion industry photography on public property, including public streets, sidewalks, trails and/or other public place. [...] The application shall list the location and/or route, date, and time of the proposed special event or event requiring a temporary use event permit. [...] for a commercial film and photography event, the app...
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.
Charleston Street Closures for Film Productions
Some RestrictionsCharleston City Code § 2-189(b)(5), (j)(4), (k)(4)
(2)A tentative site plan which may include designating the location of entrances and exits, retail, food, and alcoholic beverage vendors, tents, stages, bleachers, signs or banners, portable restrooms and sinks... [...] (5)A traffic control plan. [...] The proposed special event or temporary use event, as applicable, can provide an adequate traffic control plan for traffic control and parking m...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
Filming & Production in Charleston County →