5 rules for unincorporated Dorchester County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dorchester County allows home-based businesses as an accessory use in residential zones under Zoning and Land Development Ordinance 04-13. A low-impact home occupation stays inside the dwelling; a more intensive cottage industry needs a permit. A county business license is required either way.
Dorchester County keeps home-based businesses invisible from the street. Home occupation standards under Zoning Ordinance 04-13 bar commercial signage and displays, so the property keeps its residential appearance. HOAs across the county are frequently stricter still.
Dorchester County limits customer and client visits to home-based businesses so traffic stays within normal residential levels. Walk-in retail is not allowed from the residence; a higher-traffic cottage industry needs a permit.
South Carolina lets you sell non-hazardous homemade foods from a Dorchester County kitchen with no SCDHEC permit, no inspection, and no revenue cap. Products carry a required label, and sales go directly to the consumer.
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-1-143
PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS.
Home child care in Dorchester County is licensed by the state, not the county. SC DSS regulates a family child care home for up to six children; the home must also fit county zoning and hold a business license.
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