Charleston County BZA approves nine short‑term rental requests, denies pool variance; approves manufactured‑home exception and other variances

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 24 approved a series of land‑use requests across James Island, Johns Island, St. Andrews and East Cooper, including nine short‑term rental special exceptions and one after‑the‑fact variance denial for a proposed pool.

The board opened the publicly noticed hearing with a review of procedures and state law governing quasi‑judicial matters. After staff presentations, applicants and neighbors addressed the panel. The most active debates centered on parking, occupancy limits and neighborhood impacts for short‑term rentals; a proposed in‑ground pool on Johns Island drew the only denial of the night after commissioners found the applicant had not shown the required hardship for a variance.

Why it matters: The BZA decisions permit a number of properties to operate as short‑term rentals (STRs) under Charleston County rules; they also illustrate the board’s emphasis on on‑site parking, property management plans and the county’s standard STRP limited site plan review and noise‑control conditions. A denied pool variance underscores the board’s standard that applicants must demonstrate exceptional circumstances to vary setback rules.

What the board decided (selected items) - Case BZA082500888 (2173 Edisto Ave., James Island, Winchester): Approved a special exception to operate an extended home short‑term rental (property not owner‑occupied). Board members raised concerns about parking and occupancy; the applicant agreed to an amendment limiting occupancy to 6 guests. Approval included the four staff conditions (complete STRP limited site plan review; comply with Article 6.8; limit total calendar‑year rentals to 144 days; property owner responsible for tenant compliance with the county noise ordinance).

- Case BZA082500889 (518 Fleming Rd., James Island, Maron): Approved an extended home short‑term rental for a four‑bedroom house with six on‑site parking spaces and a maximum of 10 guests, subject to the same standard STR conditions noted above. Staff said the property met or may meet the three approval criteria; the board voted to approve after hearing from the applicant about property management arrangements.

- Case BZA082500890 (1617 Wigan Lane, James Island, McCalls): Approved an extended home short‑term rental (2 bedrooms offered for rent, 4 on‑site parking spaces, up to 5 guests) with standard staff conditions. The applicants presented letters of neighbor support and described a local property manager who would respond to calls.

- Case BZA082500891 (5014 Rees Road, Johns Island, Coastline Builders): Denied a variance request to reduce a required 30‑foot rear setback to 5 feet to install a pool. Commissioners concluded the applicant had not met the strict test for a variance (criteria 6: need not caused by the applicant’s own actions/extraordinary condition) and that smaller or alternative pool placements should be explored. The motion to deny carried unanimously.

- Case BZA082500892 (1418 Ellis St., St. Andrews, Taylor): Approved a special exception to place two manufactured homes on a one‑acre family parcel after demolition of an existing dwelling. Staff noted a majority of parcels in the 300‑foot radius are site‑built homes but the application received strong community support (roughly 68 public comments in favor). Approval included a staff‑recommended condition that the manufactured homes comply with section 6.4.24(b) of the county ordinance.

- Case BZA082500893 (1455 Stuart Ingalls Blvd., East Cooper, Webb): Approved a special exception to allow on‑site sale of beer and wine at a proposed restaurant. The board adopted staff’s recommended condition requiring proof of state alcoholic‑beverage approval before zoning permit issuance.

- Case BZA082500894 (532 Society Rd., East Cooper, Colpleasure): Approved an after‑the‑fact variance to reduce the required 50‑foot front/street‑side setback to about 9.8 feet for an existing unpermitted carport, subject to the condition that the applicant obtain required zoning and building permits for the structure. The applicant testified they had not been told a permit was required when the carport was installed and cited wetlands and a septic field that limited alternate locations on the lot.

- Case BZA082500895 (2862 Maritime Forest Dr., Johns Island, Grantham Homes / Hawker): Approved a variance to remove a 45‑inch live oak tree to allow construction of a single‑family home in a gated subdivision with a 2,400‑square‑foot minimum dwelling size. The board adopted mitigation conditions recommended by staff: either on‑site canopy replacement (inch‑for‑inch), payment to the Charleston County Tree Fund, or a combination; installation of tree barricades; and certified arborist monitoring during construction.

- Case BZA082500896 (1109 Hillside Dr., St. Andrews, Lamanna): Approved an extended home short‑term rental (3 bedrooms made available, 5 on‑site parking spaces, max 6 guests) with the standard STRP site review and operation conditions.

- Case BZA082500897 (2359 Rifle Range Rd., East Area, Rolena Investments / Fabrizio): Approved a short‑term rental special exception for a two‑bedroom house (four on‑site parking spaces, max 4 guests) with the routine staff conditions. The applicant and his daughter told the board the rental would help maintain a modest family property and that the applicant would provide 24/7 contact for noise or other problems.

Common conditions included in approvals: completion of the county STRP limited site plan review before zoning permit approval; compliance with Article 6.8 (STR regulations); a 144‑day per calendar year cap on extended home rentals; and owner responsibility for tenant compliance with the county noise ordinance. Several approvals referenced neighbor support and use of local property managers as assurance for on‑call complaint response.

Quasi‑judicial points emphasized by the board: commissioners consistently asked for (1) on‑site parking layouts that meet ZELDAR requirements (off‑street spaces cannot be counted unless shown on‑site), (2) property management contact plans for 24/7 response to complaints, and (3) mitigation measures or landscaping plans when a tree removal variance was considered.

Looking ahead: Staff will mail formal decisions within 10 working days and provide next steps for zoning permits and required STRP site review. Several applicants who were denied or who modified plans signaled they will return with revised applications.

Meeting context: The session is a regularly scheduled Charleston County BZA public hearing; the board convened under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act notice and the county’s Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance (ZELDAR).