Carolinas DASH

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Charleston County

Charleston County

FIPS CODE

45019

STATE

South Carolina

WEBSITE

https://www.charlestoncounty.org/

ZONING ORDINANCE

Charleston County

Ordinance Source URL(s)

Applicable Technologies

Solar

Technology Definition

Solar farm: a solar energy system that is designed to create power and provide it to the electrical grid system. min of 5 acres.

Ordinance Source URL(s)

https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/charlestoncounty-sc/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-2555

Setbacks

Must be equal to the required buffer.

Screening

Must prevent the solar farm from being visible from the exterior of the property

Fencing

Security fence, min 6 ft located at or near the inside line of the buffer

Buffer

Dependent on existing or zoning of adjacent property. Agriculture: 75 ft, Single-Family Dwelling: 200 ft, Other Residential: 75 ft, Commercial/Office: 50 ft, Industrial: 50 ft, Churches/Nonprofits: 50 ft, Public Facilities: 50 ft. Buffers must utilize native vegetation if available and shall not be cleared or trees cut. Buffers may be reduced by half if the site is certified through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as a South Carolina Certified Solar Habitat.

Height Restrictions

16 ft

Visual Restrictions

Collectors must be designed with anti-reflective coating to minimize glare if lighting is provided, must be installed as to not shine towards adjacent parcels. Mirrors shall be prohibited.

Noise Restrictions

N/A

Decommissioning Plan

Expected life of farm, estimated cost to decommission, and parties responsible for decommissioning

Decommissioning Requirements

Occurs after a continuous 12 months of no electricity generation, other than for mechanical, repair, replacement, and/or maintenance purposes, and must be completed within 12 months of the recording of the plan

Decommissioning Financial Assurance

No-contest, irrevocable bank letter of credit or performance and payment bond. 150% of actual cost of decommissioning

Planning and Applications

Special exception use permit is required in all districts with the exception of natural resource management districts in which solar farms are a prohibited land use. Documentation that all Solar Panels have the capacity to withstand a maximum coastal windspeed of 150 mph shall be submitted.

Moratorium

No

Moratorium Expiration

N/A

Community Engagement

N/A

Date of Last Revision

January 27, 2026

Date of Last Verification

February 11, 2026

Summary

Charleston County, SC, regulates solar energy systems designed to create power and provide it to the electrical grid system with a minimum of five acres. Key setbacks include 200 feet from single family dwellings, 75 feet from agriculture and other residences, and 50 feet from commercial/offices, industrial sites, churches/nonprofits, and public facilities. The security fence itself must be located at or near the inside setback line, and must prevent the solar farm from being visible from the exterior of the property. Buffers must utilize native vegetation if available and shall not be cleared or trees cut. Buffers may be reduced by half if the site is certified through the SC Department of Natural Resources as a SC Certified Solar Habitat. Panels cannot exceed 16 feet in height. Solar panels must be sited to avoid glare hazards. Decommissioning is required after twelve months of no electricity generation, other than for mechanical, repair, replacement, and/or maintenance purposes, and must be completed within a twelve-month timeframe to remove all equipment and restore the site. A performance guarantee of 150% of decommissioning costs is required. Special exception use permit is required in all districts with the exception of natural resource management districts in which solar farms are a prohibited land use.