Charleston County, SC Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Charleston County adopted its current building code by Ordinance No. 2283 on March 26, 2024, codified at Chapter 4 of the County Code. Section 4-20, § 105.1 requires anyone who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure to first file an application with the Building Official and obtain a permit before starting work. Section 105.2 then lists specific work exempt from that requirement, and item 2 of the Building exemptions exempts 'fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high.' A fence at or below that height can go up without a county building permit; a taller fence falls back under the general 105.1 requirement and needs Building Official sign-off before construction starts.

Section 105.2 is explicit that an exemption 'shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction,' so a permit-exempt fence still has to meet whatever height, setback, or vision-clearance standards apply under the county's separate zoning rules. Applications that do require a permit must identify the work, describe the parcel by tax map number, and be accompanied by construction documents under § 105.3; permits become invalid if work is not started within 180 days of issuance (§ 105.5).

A dispute over whether a fence needs a permit can be appealed to the Charleston County Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals, an eleven-member board that includes architects, engineers, and licensed contractors, within 20 calendar days of the Building Official's decision under §§ 4-29, 114.4.