The City of Charleston handles a residential fence as permitted work. Its FAQ lays out what to submit, and it's worth having every piece ready before anyone sets a post.
What the city asks for
- HOA approval, if the property is in an HOA.
- A property plat showing lot lines, the house and any easements. If you don't have one, the city links a how-to for drawing your own site plan.
- A completed building permit application.
- A BAR application, only if the property is inside the Board of Architectural Review's purview. A historic districts purview map shows which properties are.
The complete package goes in through the city's online permitting portal.
Fences in drainage easements
If the fence would sit in a drainage easement, there's a separate encroachment step: an encroachment application, the zoning-approved plat and a $25 payment, with up to four weeks to process. See fences, easements and wet yards.
Height and setbacks
Height limits and setbacks come from the city's zoning rules and are reviewed with the permit. They can differ by zoning district and by whether the fence faces a street, so confirm them with the city's zoning staff for your address rather than relying on a general rule.
Which city are you in?
Charleston covers the peninsula, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Daniel Island and the Cainhoy peninsula, but parts of James Island belong to the separate Town of James Island, and some addresses nearby are in unincorporated Charleston County. Your tax record shows the jurisdiction. This page covers the City of Charleston only.
Before digging: SC811
SC811 lists fence posts among the projects that need a locate request. Make it at least 3 full working days before digging and no more than 12 working days ahead.
Sources
- City of Charleston FAQ: What steps are required to build a fence at my house?
- Wikipedia: Charleston, South Carolina
- SC811: Homeowner FAQs
Sources checked November 10, 2026. Permit steps and price surveys change; follow the link for the current version.