Property Maintenance in Charleston, SC (2026)
2 verified property maintenance rules for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
Charleston bars owners from leaving a building vacant more than 30 days unless they're actively repairing it, listing it for sale or rent, or actively maintaining it against blight. A boarded building must be rehabilitated within 12 months, and any structure vacant or boarded more than a year is automatically a public nuisance under Section 21-54.
Charleston Vacant Building Blight Rules
Significant RestrictionsCharleston City Code § 21-54
Vacant building means any building or structure on a parcel of real property that: (A) is unoccupied, unattended, and is not actively used as a place of residence or business by persons who have a legal right to be on the premises for a period of thirty (30) days or more, or (B) is open or unsecured so that unauthorized admittance may be gained without damaging any portion of the property. ... ...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Charleston requires every property owner, including owners of vacant lots, to keep the land free of litter and unsightly growth, defined in the code as unhealthy, unsanitary grass, weeds, brush or vines. Non-resident owners of vacant lots must appoint a resident agent responsible for upkeep, and the city sanitation division can order a five-day cleanup under City Code Section 14-5.
Charleston Vacant Lot Maintenance Duty
Some RestrictionsCharleston City Code § 14-5(a),(d)-(e)
(a)It shall be the duty of the owner, agent, occupant or lessee to keep exterior private and public property free of litter and unsightly growth. This requirement applies not only to removal of loose litter, but to materials that already are, or become, trapped at such locations as fences and wall bases, grassy and planted areas, borders, embankments and other lodging points. ...(d)It shall be ...
Looking for Charleston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
Property Maintenance in Charleston County →