South Carolina restaurants in Charleston are inspected by SCDHEC, not the city. Grades are letter A-C posted at entry, with routine inspections roughly twice annually based on risk.
SCDHEC's Bureau of Environmental Health enforces SC Regulation 61-25 governing retail food establishments in Charleston. Inspectors visit restaurants one to four times yearly depending on risk category, scoring violations against a point system. A grade of 'A' (90-100), 'B' (80-89), or 'C' (70-79) must be posted near the public entrance. Failing scores trigger reinspection within ten days. Charleston city does not run its own grading program; complaints route to DHEC's Charleston regional office on Daniel Island for follow-up investigation.
Failure to post the letter grade card or operating below 70 may trigger permit suspension and closure by DHEC inspectors.
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See how Charleston's restaurant grade cards rules stack up against other locations.
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