Home Business in Berkeley County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Berkeley County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Berkeley County treats home occupations as a conditional accessory use in the unincorporated area, never a stand-alone business. Article 11.9.1 caps the operation at 25 percent of the dwelling's floor area and requires zoning permit approval before it can start.
Berkeley County Home Occupation Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 11.9.1(A), (E)
A.Accessory use. Home occupations that comply with the regulations shall be allowed as an accessory use to any allowed residential or agricultural principal use. ... E.Floor area. The total square footage of the home occupation shall not exceed 25 percent of the total floor area of the principal dwelling.
Signage Rules
Berkeley County bars any visible sign of a home-based business from the street or a neighboring lot, which rules out exterior signage advertising a home occupation in the unincorporated county. Section 11.9.1(G) lists commercial lighting among the barred exterior evidence.
Berkeley County Home Business Sign Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 11.9.1(G)
G.Exterior appearance. There shall be no visible evidence of the conduct of a home occupation when viewed from the street right-of-way or from an adjacent lot. Prohibited alterations include, but are not limited to, construction of parking lots, paving of required setbacks, or use of commercial lighting.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Berkeley County limits home occupation client traffic in the unincorporated area: visits are allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the business cannot generate more than ten vehicle trips a day, split evenly between arrivals and departures.
Berkeley County Home Business Visit Hours
Some RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 11.9.1(D), (K)
D.Customers, clients, and patients. Customers, clients, and patients shall visit the site of a home occupation only during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and public access to the home occupation shall be provided by a separate exterior entrance that is not visible from the street right-of-way or from an adjacent lot. ... K.Traffic. The home occupation shall not generate greater volumes of...
Home Daycare
Berkeley County zoning allows a family day care home as an accessory use to a residential dwelling only, capped at six children and staffed solely by the resident, under County Code of Ordinances § 11.6.1.
Berkeley County Family Day Care Home Zoning Rule
Some RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 11.6.1
A.Permitted as an accessory to a permitted residential use only.B.Shall comply with all South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) requirements.C.Care is provided for no more than six children.D.Employees, other than the resident, are prohibited.
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