Sign Regulations in Charleston, SC (2026)
4 verified sign regulations for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Since January 1, 1996, City Code § 19-441 has made it unlawful to place a sign promoting a political candidate or party within any state-maintained street, highway, or right-of-way inside Charleston, or within any right-of-way the city itself maintains. The ban makes up the entirety of Article XV on its own, with no exceptions written into the section.
Charleston Bans Political Signs in Rights-of-Way
Heavy RestrictionsCharleston, S.C. Code of Ordinances § 19-441
From and after January 1, 1996, it shall be unlawful to place or allow to be placed, a sign promoting a political candidate or party within a state maintained street, highway or right-of-way in the corporate limits of the City of Charleston, or within any right-of-way in the corporate limits of the city that is maintained by the City of Charleston.
Digital Billboards
Charleston bans electronic and bulb-lit message signs citywide, with two narrow carve-outs: schools on at least eight acres may run a non-flashing board up to half their allowed sign face, and hotels and other accommodations uses near I-526 and Savannah Highway may install one non-flashing board capped at 60 square feet per face and two faces.
Charleston Electronic Message Board Sign Rules
Significant RestrictionsCharleston, SC Zoning Ordinance § 54-404(e)
e.a sign which utilizes individual bulbs or electronic means to produce a message, excluding time and temperature signs; except that school facilities which occupy at least eight (8) acres may utilize electronic message boards as part of their allowed signage provided that 1) the electronic message board does not contain flashing messages, and 2) the electronic message board does not exceed 50 ...
Window Signs
Charleston limits window signage to 20 percent of any single window, whether permanent or temporary, and a temporary window sign needs no permit as long as it stays under that 20 percent cap and comes down within 60 days.
Charleston Window Sign Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsCharleston, SC Zoning Ordinance §§ 54-411(g), 54-415(c)
g.Temporary window signs shall be allowed without a permit provided that they, along with any permanent window signs, cover no more than 20% of any single window area and shall be in place for no more than sixty (60) days. [Sec. 54-415] c.Window signs shall be permitted as follows:1.In addition to signage permitted under "Façade Signs," window signs may be displayed provided no more than twenty...
Freeway-Facing Signs
Charleston allows off-premises billboards only inside the Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district and only when the entire sign sits within 100 feet of an interstate highway, capped at one sign per lot, 150 square feet per face, and at least 1,000 feet from the next billboard.
Charleston Off-Premises Billboards Near Interstates
Significant RestrictionsCharleston, SC Zoning Ordinance § 54-415(n)
n.Off-premises signs shall be permitted as follows:1.Off-premises signs are permitted only within the HI (Heavy Industrial) zoning district and only when the entire sign and sign structure is located within one hundred (100) feet of an interstate highway.2.In this district, one off-premise sign shall be permitted per lot provided it meets the following requirements:(a)Off-premises signs shall b...
Looking for Charleston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
Sign Regulations in Charleston County →