Charleston cannot set a local minimum wage. SC §6-1-130, enacted in 2002, blocks all South Carolina cities and counties from establishing a wage floor above the federal $7.25 baseline.
South Carolina §6-1-130, the state's local-mandate preemption statute enacted in 2002, prohibits any county or municipality from establishing a minimum wage above the federal level set by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and has remained unchanged since 2009. Charleston has no local minimum wage and cannot enact one. Tipped workers receive $2.13 federal cash wage plus tips. The City may set its own employee pay scale as employer but cannot bind private businesses. Living-wage advocacy continues without legal effect.
No local penalty applies because Charleston cannot enact a wage floor; FLSA violations by employers are enforced by the federal Wage and Hour Division.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Charleston, SC
Charleston does not regulate residential lawn ornaments such as statues, garden gnomes, flamingos, religious displays, or holiday figures on private property...
Charleston, SC
Charleston's sign provisions in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 54) prohibit commercial inflatable advertising devices, balloons, and similar wind-driven attenti...
Charleston, SC
Charleston does not impose general municipal time limits on residential holiday lights, and the Zoning Ordinance sign provisions exempt non-commercial reside...
Charleston, SC
Outdoor kitchens with permanent gas lines, water/sewer connections, electrical wiring, or roofed structures require permits in Charleston. A covered or walle...
Charleston, SC
Charcoal, wood, and pellet smokers are treated as open-flame cooking devices under the 2021 IFC adopted by South Carolina. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits thei...
Charleston, SC
Charleston follows the 2021 International Fire Code as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking...
See how Charleston's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.