Public Health Rules in Charleston, SC (2026)
7 verified public health rules for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Restaurant Grade Cards
South Carolina restaurants in Charleston are inspected by SCDHEC, not the city. Grades are letter A-C posted at entry, with routine inspections roughly twice annually based on risk.
DHEC Restaurant Inspections in Charleston
Some RestrictionsRodent Control
Charleston Code Chapter 17 (Health and Sanitation) treats rodent infestations and standing-water mosquito breeding as public nuisances. Property owners must abate within notice deadlines or face city abatement at owner expense.
Rodent and Vector Nuisances Ch. 17
Some RestrictionsBed-Bug Rules
Charleston rental units must remain free of bed bug infestations under Chapter 20 housing quality standards. Landlords are responsible for treatment when infestations are not solely tenant-caused, with SC tenant-landlord act backstopping habitability.
Bed Bug Habitability Standards Ch. 20
Some RestrictionsSyringe Disposal
South Carolina classifies used syringes as regulated medical waste under SCDHEC rules. Charleston households use FDA-cleared sharps containers and drop sites; SC has no needle-exchange preemption blocking syringe service programs.
Sharps and Syringe Disposal in Charleston
Few RestrictionsHealthy Food Retail
Charleston has no menu calorie labeling, healthy corner-store, or sugary-drink rules. Federal FDA menu labeling applies to chains over 20 locations; SC and Charleston have not added local supplements.
No Healthy Food Retail Mandates
Few RestrictionsCalorie Labeling
Calorie labeling at Charleston chain restaurants is governed solely by the FDA federal rule for chains with twenty or more locations. The city imposes no local labeling, no warning icons, and no kid's meal default-beverage rules.
FDA Calorie Labeling Applies, No Local Add-On
Few RestrictionsFDA Menu Labeling Final Rule (21 CFR 101.11)
May 7, 2018 is the compliance date for the menu labeling final rule. On this date, consumers will have access to calorie and nutrition information in certain chain establishments covered by the rule. The menu labeling requirements apply to restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations. In addition, they must be doing business under the sam...
Food Handler Certification
South Carolina Regulation 61-25 requires every Charleston food service establishment to have a Certified Food Protection Manager on staff. SC does not mandate a separate food handler card for line cooks beyond manager certification.
Certified Food Protection Manager Required
Some RestrictionsLooking for Charleston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
Public Health Rules in Charleston County →