Compare ADU zoning rules across 1 South Carolina cities. Average ADU score: 6.0/10.
Gathered from the 1 city below, with the bill or ordinance each one names. Statewide measures are listed once with the cities they reached, rather than repeated for each.
Statewide law sets a floor; the numbers that decide your project are local. Here is the spread across the 1 South Carolina city covered here, taken from each city's own ordinance rather than a state summary.
| Question | Across South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Are ADUs permitted? | 0 of 1 permit them, 1 only by discretionary approval. |
| Detached size cap | Median 600 sq ft, from 600 to 600 sq ft across the 1 cities publishing a numeric cap. |
| Owner-occupancy | Required in 1 of 1. |
| Build cost | $150,000 to $300,000 depending on city and unit type. |
Recomputed whenever a city page changes, so this and the city pages below cannot disagree.
| City | Max Size | Setbacks | Permit Fees | Build Cost | 1BR Rent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 850 sq ft of conditioned floor area; if using the reduced 3 ft side/rear setback exception (Sec. 54-506.f), the building footprint is capped at 600 sq ft | District accessory-building setbacks apply; optional exception allows one accessory building within 3 ft of interior rear lot lines if behind the main house with a footprint of 600 sq ft or less - not available along marsh, river, or lake lot lines | Valuation-based building-permit fees, no published flat ADU fee - third-party estimates put total Charleston ADU permitting at roughly $1,500-$3,000 | $150,000-$300,000 | $1,500-$1,750/mo | 6/10 |
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