Charleston County Council voted Dec. 9 to adopt the 10‑Mile community overlay and approved a broad set of amendments to the county’s zoning and land development regulations (ZLDR).

Planning staff summarized the package as implementing the comprehensive plan, reducing Board of Zoning Appeals caseload, and clarifying administrative processes. Key changes include administrative relief for certain front setbacks, clarified accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) rules (including when a variance is not required and separate meter requirements for detached ADUs), a definition and permit path for agritourism, updates to short‑term‑rental requirements (removing notarization requirements for renewal affidavits but retaining signed affidavits), screening and buffer clarifications, signage limits, and technical corrections across chapters.

Staff noted a support petition with 899 signatures for the agritourism amendments and reported one comment opposing pedestrian ways in industrial parks. During council discussion members asked specifically which community proposals had been added since the last meeting; staff and the chair said several suggested changes raised during a recent community email had legal implications and could not be folded into the ordinance for third reading and would need a separate amendment process if pursued later.

Council clarified that property-specific opt-outs requested during the public process — including language to allow Mr. Tisdale’s property to opt out of the overlay — were preserved. Council also recorded a change to rural-area density referenced by staff, from one residence per acre to one residence per three acres in certain zones, which was discussed as part of a related planning item.

Roll call recorded the ordinance passing on third reading (10‑Mile overlay) with the recorded majority; ZLDR chapter amendments also passed on third reading. Planning and public‑input steps remain available should the community and council pursue additional changes.