We are pleased that you are considering the City of Charleston for the location of your business. All new Businesses located in the City must comply with our Zoning Ordinance. Please contact our Zoning Department at 843-867-7679 to see if your type of business is allowed or to confirm that the zoning and physical layout of the building and site are appropriate for the use intended and complies with the city’s ordinances.
Applications Required For New Businesses
Commercial Locations
A Business License Certificate of Occupancy Application must be submitted and approved by Zoning, Fire Marshal and Building Inspections before a license can be issued.
Non-profit organizations may be exempt from the city’s business license fee. In order to determine if your organization is exempt, you must complete and submit a Business License Certificate of Occupancy Application to the Revenue Collections - Business License Division.