8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Charleston County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Small recreational fire pits and campfires are allowed under SC open-burning Regulation 61-62.2, which exempts fires 'used solely for recreational purposes.' Burn only clean, untreated wood, keep the fire attended, and never let smoke become a nuisance to neighbors.
SC Reg. 61-62.2, Section I.C
Campfires and fires used solely for recreational purposes, ceremonial occasions, or human warmth. Fires set for the purpose of human warmth must use only clean wood products.
South Carolina permits consumer fireworks (Title 23, Ch. 35), and unincorporated Charleston County has no ordinance banning their discharge. But the beach towns do ban them, and a noisy display can still trigger the county's nuisance-noise rule.
SC Code 23-35-175
It is unlawful to knowingly and wilfully discharge fireworks from, in, or into a Fireworks Prohibited Zone.
There is no statewide defensible-space mandate, but if you burn cleared brush you must follow SC Regulation 61-62.2. Land-clearing burns in non-residential areas must sit at least 1,000 feet from roads and other properties and follow strict timing and material limits.
SC Reg. 61-62.2, Section I.E.1
The location of the burning must be a sufficient distance but not less than 1000 feet, from public roadways and all residential, commercial, and industrial sites not a part of the contiguous property on which the burning is conducted.
Open burning is prohibited statewide under SC Regulation 61-62.2, except that residents may burn leaves, tree branches, or yard trimmings that originate on and are burned on their own home's premises. You must notify the SC Forestry Commission first in unincorporated areas.
SC Reg. 61-62.2, Section I.A
Open burning of leaves, tree branches or yard trimmings originating on the premises of private residences and burned on those premises.
Charleston County has no formal wildfire-hazard overlay zone or defensible-space mandate, but the Lowcountry's wildland-urban interface, especially near the Francis Marion National Forest, means real wildfire risk. Burn bans and SC open-burning rules are the main controls.
Smoke-alarm rules come from the statewide South Carolina Fire Code, not a separate county ordinance. SC has adopted the 2021 South Carolina Fire Code (based on the 2021 International Fire Code), requiring working smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings.
Recreational backyard fires and fires for cooking food are exempt from SC's open-burning ban. Regulation 61-62.2 Section I.B allows 'open burning in connection with the preparation of food for immediate consumption,' and Section I.C covers recreational fires.
SC Reg. 61-62.2, Section I.B
Open burning in connection with the preparation of food for immediate consumption.
Propane storage is governed by the statewide South Carolina Fire Code and Fuel Gas Code, not a distinct county rule. Small residential cylinders for grills are allowed; larger tanks must follow the adopted fire-code and NFPA 58 separation and installation standards.
2 cities in Charleston County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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