Charleston Public Works coordinates with the Lowcountry Continuum of Care and Charleston Police to clear unsanctioned encampments after written notice, offering shelter referral and personal-property storage for residents during cleanups.
Charleston handles encampment sites on public property through coordinated cleanups led by Public Works with Police presence and Lowcountry Continuum of Care outreach. Standard protocol provides 72-hour written posted notice on the site listing the cleanup date, contact information, and storage location for personal belongings. Outreach workers attempt to connect residents with One80 Place, Crisis Ministries, and other shelter or housing resources before removal. Items deemed sanitary hazards are discarded; non-hazardous personal property is stored for retrieval. The protocol aligns with constitutional-property guidance from federal cases like Lavan v. Los Angeles.
Residents who refuse to vacate after notice may face trespass citations; failure by the city to follow notice and storage protocol exposes Charleston to constitutional damages claims.
See how Charleston's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.