Charleston County, SC Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Countywide rule
- None (SC DNR 2024)
- Isle of Palms
- Sec. 5-4-17 turtle lighting
- Folly Beach
- Ord. 151.45, May 1-Oct 31
- Dewees Island
- Wildlife lighting requirements
- Nesting season
- Roughly May-October
Summary
Unincorporated Charleston County has no countywide dark-sky or sea-turtle lighting ordinance, per SC DNR's April 2024 list. Instead, the coastal barrier-island towns and communities set the beach-lighting rules that protect nesting sea turtles.
County/Municipality: Charleston County - Ordinance #/Location in Code: None. ... Dewees Island - Wildlife Outdoor Lighting Requirements/Lighting/Electrical specifications stipulated in Building Requirements. ... Isle of Palms - Sea Turtle Outdoor Lighting Regulations/Chapter 4: Zoning, Article 1, Sec. 5-4-17.
Full Breakdown
The South Carolina DNR's official 2024 catalog of sea-turtle lighting ordinances lists Charleston County itself as None, meaning the county government has not adopted a countywide beachfront-lighting rule. On the county's barrier islands the local jurisdiction governs: the Town of Isle of Palms enforces Sea Turtle Outdoor Lighting Regulations (Ch. 4, Art. 1, Sec. 5-4-17); Folly Beach prohibits beach-illuminating lighting May 1-October 31 (Ord. 151.45); and the unincorporated community of Dewees Island sets Wildlife Outdoor Lighting Requirements through its building requirements and POA. Because loggerhead hatchlings navigate by the horizon, these rules require shielded, low, long-wavelength lighting near the beach during nesting season (roughly May-October). Elsewhere in the unincorporated county, no dark-sky lighting standard applies.
Violations & Fines
Beach-lighting violations are enforced by the island town or community that adopted the ordinance; the county does not cite a countywide lighting rule because none exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charleston County ban bright beachfront lights?
Which lights hurt sea turtles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
Compare Charleston County to another location·View the South Carolina outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.