Wood and charcoal smokers are legal for backyard use in Charleston County because cooking fires are exempt from SC's open-burning ban. There is no county smoker permit, but persistent smoke that disturbs neighbors can still be cited as a nuisance.
Low-and-slow smoking is common in Lowcountry backyards and is treated as cooking, which is exempt from open-burning restrictions under SC Reg 61-62.2 Section I.B ('preparation of food for immediate consumption'). Unincorporated Charleston County requires no permit for a residential smoker or pit. The practical limits are the county's Chapter 3 Livability nuisance provisions: heavy, prolonged smoke that drifts onto neighboring homes can be treated as a nuisance. Burn only clean cooking wood and charcoal, never treated lumber or trash, keep the smoker a safe distance from structures and fences, and be mindful of smoke direction toward neighbors. Commercial or event smoking may trigger additional fire-code and health-permit requirements.
A backyard smoker itself is lawful; only smoke that becomes a genuine nuisance under Ch. 3, or use of prohibited fuels, would draw a citation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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