Parking Rules in Charleston County, SC (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Charleston County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
In unincorporated Charleston County, an RV, boat, camper, or trailer may be parked on your own residential lot, but a recreational vehicle cannot be lived in outside a licensed RV park. Setback and screening rules from the county ZLDR apply; each island town has its own rules.
RV, Boat & Trailer Parking in Unincorporated Charleston County
Some RestrictionsCharleston County ZLDR § 6.5.13
Major recreation equipment such as recreational vehicles (RVs) cannot be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping on residential properties or outside of legally established RV parks or campgrounds.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
On Charleston County-area streets, a vehicle more than 20 feet long generally cannot stop, stand, or park in one spot for more than an hour, a rule the island and city communities enforce. Larger inoperable or junk vehicles on private lots must be screened from view.
Oversized Vehicle Parking in Charleston County
Some RestrictionsCharleston County ZLDR § 6.5.14
The open storage and/or repair of Inoperable Motor Vehicles is not permitted within the required Front Setback. Inoperable Motor Vehicles must be screened by a Fence, Wall, Building, or vegetative buffer that completely shields the vehicles from view off-site.
Street Parking Limits
Charleston County council can designate any portion of a county highway as a no-parking zone and post signs marking it, under Sec. 20-16 of the county code. "Parking" covers stopping or standing a vehicle for any reason other than traffic control, police direction, or active loading and unloading. Ignoring a posted no-parking sign is a misdemeanor under the county's general penalty.
County-Designated No-Parking Zones, Charleston County SC
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 20-16
(b) Pursuant to section 56-5-710 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, the county council hereby provides that it shall from time to time designate certain portions of designated county highways as areas in which the parking of vehicles is prohibited. (c) For the purpose of this section, parking of a vehicle shall mean the stopping or standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, except...
Abandoned Vehicles
A vehicle left unattended more than 48 hours on a Charleston County highway, or over seven days on private property without the owner's consent, is legally abandoned under SC Code 56-5-5810 and may be tagged and towed. Inoperable-vehicle storage is also limited by county zoning.
Abandoned Vehicles in Charleston County
Some RestrictionsSC Code 56-5-5810
"Abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle required to be registered in this State if operated on a public highway in this State that is left unattended on a highway for more than forty-eight hours, or a vehicle that has remained on private or other public property for a period of more than seven days without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property.
Loading Zones
Charleston County fines vehicles $20.00 for parking in a designated loading zone on county-owned or county-leased property under Code Section 20-17. The rule covers only county facilities, not private lots or general county roads, and pairs the fine with immediate towing authority, a hearing-officer appeal process, and escalating consequences for unpaid citations.
Loading Zone Parking Rules on Charleston County Property
Some RestrictionsCharleston County Code § 20-17
(a)Created. There is hereby created a parking ordinance [section] regulating parking on county-owned or county-leased property in municipalities and parking in the unincorporated areas of the county. The purpose of this section is to establish and enforce orderly and safe parking at county facilities. This section is not intended to regulate private property or private parking lots. Also, this ...
Parking Rules by City in Charleston County
2 cities in Charleston County have their own parking rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Charleston County ordinances
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