A zoning permit is not required for a fence under six feet that is exempt from the building code, except fences made of brick, stone, or concrete, which need a permit at any height. Taller fences and masonry walls require a permit from Charleston County Zoning & Planning.
Under ZLDR §3.8.2.C the county exempts most short residential fences from a zoning permit. Permits are triggered by height over six feet, masonry construction (brick, stone, concrete), or building-code applicability. Fences must comply with vision-clearance/setback rules of ZLDR §4.2.3 and must not block or impede natural drainage courses or drainage easements (ZLDR §4.2.4.A). Fences built within a utility easement may be removed for utility work at the owner's cost. Applications go to the Charleston County Zoning & Planning Department. Municipalities within the county administer their own permits.
Installing a permit-required fence without approval is a code violation; Zoning & Planning may require a permit, corrective work, or removal of noncompliant fencing.
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