Design Review Board (DRB)

coronavirus

COVID-19 MODIFIED OPERATIONS UPDATE 

May 22, 2020

BOARD MEETINGS: DRB board meetings were cancelled March 16 - May 27.  Applications were deferred in the order received and will be placed on future meeting agendas. 

DRB meetings will be held virtually via Zoom beginning with the June 4th meeting.

  • See the meeting agenda for the Zoom virtual meeting link and call-in option.  You will need to register with Zoom to view the virtual online meeting.
  • Information on each application, including documents provided by the applicant can be found in the agenda "Image Overview".  
  • Public Comment Instructions: Please use one of the following methods to request to speak at the meeting or provide comments for the Board.  Requests to speak at the meeting and comments must be received by 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting: 
    1. Request to speak or leave a comment via voice mail at 843-724-3765. If requesting to speak or leaving a comment, please provide your name, address, and telephone number;  
    2. Sign-up to speak or leave comments for the Board of Architectural Review-Small (BAR-S)  by completing the form a http://innovate.charleston-sc.gov/comments/ ;
    3. Mail comments to: Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability, 2 George Street, 3rd floor, Charleston, SC 29401.  

BOARD SUBMITTALS: Plans for DRB meeting agendas will be accepted digitally; paper submittals will not be accepted. Applications and plans in PDF format should be submitted directly to the board administrator, David Meeks, via email.   Please note, 50MB is the maximum file size that can be received via email; contact staff directly to discuss larger files.

DRB APPLICATIONS

STAFF REVIEW SUBMITTALS:  Simple requests such as painting, repair, and small modifications may be sent to permits@charleston-sc.gov and will be distributed to DRB staff. Please include other applicable applications, photographs, and valuation of request.  The Permit Center is also conducting modified operations.

OTHER ITEMS: For all other department related inquiries, please continue communicating with staff via email and phone.  Please visit the City of Charleston’s webpage for more information on the City’s response to COVID-19.

====================================================================

DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 

Regular Meetings

  • 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month
  • 2 George Street
    1st Floor, Public Meeting Room 1403
    Charleston, SC 29403

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings and results are available following the meetings.
Most recent agenda (PDF) | View all agendas and results

Overview

The purpose of Design Review is "to establish a review process that will protect and improve the visual and aesthetic character and economic value" of development within the City of Charleston.

DRB reviews new construction, exterior alterations, and signage for commercial or non-residential (more than eight multi-family units) projects where the property lies within the designated corridors (see DRB List of Corridors (PDF)). Projects that are less than 3,000 square feet, with certain restrictions, may be reviewed at Staff level and are not required to go before the Board.

Applying

To apply, submit a completed application, along with the required information and fee, to the Board of Architectural Review (BAR)/DRB counter of the:
Permit Center
2 George Street
1st Floor
Charleston, SC 29403

Applications are due by Noon on the deadline date. Further information regarding DRB applications, submittal requirements, meeting and fee schedules, general guidelines, etc, may be downloaded or may be found at the Permit Center.

Related Documents

DRB Information

Submittal Requirements

 Policy Statements

 Permit Center 

  • Permit Center Page
  • Hours of Operation
    Monday through Friday
    8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Closed every 3rd Tuesday of each month 3 to 5 p.m.
    Closed Saturday and Sunday.
  • Includes permit issuance, business licensing, BAR, DRB, Zoning, and code review