North Charleston, SC Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 5-15(a), (b)
- Permitted farm uses
- Crop production, horse boarding, forestry
- Also allows
- Single-family residential
- Accessory use limit
- No nuisance to neighbors
Summary
North Charleston's AG zoning district reserves land for crop production, horse boarding, and forestry, shielding agricultural uses from development pressure under Section 5-15.
It is the intent of this section that the AG district be established to reserve appropriate land for agricultural activities, protect agricultural land and land uses from development pressures, protect natural and historical resources, preserve wetlands, watercourses and other significant natural resource areas, and to preserve the scenic quality of the landscape....(a)Permitted uses: The following uses shall be permitted in the AG zoning district:1.Agricultural uses:a.Agriculture, crop production;b.Agriculture, horse care, stabling and boarding;c.Forestry.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-15 establishes the city's AG zoning district specifically to reserve land for agricultural activity and protect agricultural land and uses from development pressure, alongside preserving wetlands, watercourses, and scenic landscape quality. Permitted uses are limited to crop production, horse care, stabling and boarding, forestry, and single-family residential, and accessory uses allow a private kennel or the keeping of poultry or animals for commercial purposes as long as they don't create a nuisance for neighbors. It is a narrow district: the intent is to hold specific mapped parcels for farming, not to grant farming rights citywide.
Violations & Fines
Placing a use outside the AG district's permitted or accessory list on AG-zoned land, or keeping livestock or poultry so as to create a nuisance to neighbors, breaches Section 5-15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Charleston have a zoning district for farming?
Can I keep poultry on AG-zoned land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Charleston
Compare North Charleston to another location·View the South Carolina right to farm overview
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Charleston County handle agricultural zoning protection.