Charleston council approves amended digital-sign rules after local grocer’s request

The Charleston City Council on the evening meeting passed Bill 8065, an amendment to the city’s digital-sign ordinance that removes a prior "12 feet or less" area restriction while keeping limits on brightness and prohibiting moving graphics. The measure was approved after council discussion and a roll-call vote; the transcript does not include a numeric vote tally.

The change was explained by Councilwoman Hoover, who told colleagues the amendment narrows a specific area restriction on line 34 of the ordinance but leaves other existing controls in place, including a requirement that digital displays change no more frequently than every 15 minutes and brightness limits. Hoover noted the proposal passed both the planning commission and the planning/streets & traffic committee unanimously before coming to council. "We technically do not allow more signage," Hoover said, adding that the amendment opens digital signage opportunities in certain commercial areas while maintaining bans in the Central Business District and the East End overlay.

The passage followed public comment from Jeff Joseph, who identified himself as owner of the Piggly Wiggly on Spring Street. Joseph said the store has spent substantial time and money upgrading its facilities and that a modern digital sign would be "a plus for the West Side," helping the business communicate with the public more efficiently. "We just feel that this sign...is going to be a plus for the West Side," Joseph said, and asked the council for support.

Council member Chad Robinson asked whether the amendment would be "more business friendly" for stores such as Joseph’s; Hoover responded it would not increase total allowed signage by the percentage-of-building rules but would allow additional digital signage in some areas. Council discussion emphasized the ordinance’s retained technical limits — change interval and brightness — and the committee endorsements that preceded council consideration.

The presiding officer instructed the clerk to prepare the voting machine, the clerk announced that all members had voted with no abstentions, and the presiding officer declared Bill 8065 passed. The transcript records no numeric roll-call or tally; vote counts are not specified.

The ordinance change will take effect according to standard local procedures for ordinances; the council did not state a different effective date during the meeting. The bill had been amended to balance business flexibility in designated areas with city limits on brightness and motion.