Unincorporated Charleston County requires a permit before removing protected trees. Grand Trees (24-inch-plus diameter, except pine/sweetgum) need a Grand Tree Removal Permit, and clearing any land requires a Zoning Permit first. On non-single-family land, all trees 8 inches or larger are protected.
Charleston County's ZLDR Article 9.2 is the operative tree-permit rule for unincorporated land. All Grand Trees are prohibited from removal unless a Grand Tree Removal Permit is issued, and permits are approved based on whether the tree is dead, diseased, dying, or a hazard; otherwise removal needs Board of Zoning Appeals approval for hardship. Before clearing any property, an owner must contact Zoning & Planning to obtain a Zoning Permit. For non-single-family-residential uses, all trees 8 inches or greater in diameter are protected. Applications go to the county Zoning & Planning Department (trees@charlestoncounty.org, 843-202-7200), and mitigation or replanting may be required.
Removing a protected or Grand Tree, or clearing land, without the required permit is a ZLDR violation subject to enforcement, mandatory mitigation/replanting, and fines through Zoning & Planning.
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