Council holds first reading on ADU zoning change; item referred to Public Safety Committee

City planning staff presented a first reading on Jan. 9 to amend zoning regulations to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) behind primary dwellings in parts of R‑1 zoning, and the council referred the item to the Public Safety Committee for Jan. 16 for additional consideration.

Under the proposed text read on the floor, ADUs would be allowed as a conditional use in R‑1 districts (except in the Old North Charleston Historic District/adjacent neighborhood conservation districts, where other provisions already exist). Requirements presented by staff included a minimum lot size of 4,500 square feet, a maximum of one ADU per property, a maximum ADU size of 800 square feet or two‑thirds of the primary dwelling unit (whichever applies per ordinance language), a requirement that the ADU be subordinate to the primary dwelling, and one off‑street parking space for the ADU. ADUs would be prohibited from use as short‑term rentals under the proposed amendment.

Council members asked several questions about the boundaries of the historic district exclusion, whether the change would allow ADUs broadly across R‑1 or if case‑by‑case review was possible, and required setbacks and separations from the primary dwelling. Planning staff responded that each ADU application would be reviewed independently against the stated criteria, that setback and separation requirements are similar to other accessory structures, and that the overlay district already contains provisions allowing ADUs above detached garages.

After the presentation and questions, the council, without objection, referred the ordinance amendment to the Public Safety Committee with a scheduled review on Jan. 16.