August 31 Tropical Storm Idalia Recovery Update

Tropical Storm Idalia recovery efforts began at daybreak, as city crews fanned out across the city to complete initial damage assessments and clean-up.

The city shifted to OPCON 3 this morning, indicating a return to normal city operations, and the MEOC re...

August 30 Tropical Storm Idalia Update #2

The city of Charleston continues operating at OPCON 2 in tandem with Charleston County. The MEOC remains staffed with Emergency Management, Police, Fire and other essential personnel managing the city’s response to the storm.

Current forecast: As of 5 p.m....

August 30 Hurricane Idalia Update #1

The city of Charleston is now operating at OPCON 2 in tandem with Charleston County. The MEOC remains staffed with Emergency Management, Police, Fire and other essential personnel managing the city’s response to the storm.

Current forecast: The primary thr...

August 29 Hurricane Idalia Update #2

The city remains at OPCON 3 as officials continue to monitor Hurricane Idalia’s track and are prepare for impacts in the Charleston area. 

The city will shift to OPCON 2 at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30 in conjunction with the planned activation ...

August 29 Tropical Storm Idalia Update #1

City officials continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia’s track and are preparing for impacts in the Charleston area. The city remains at OPCON 3, in tandem with Charleston County, and city Emergency Management remains in close contact with state and reg...

City of Charleston Begins Initial Preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia

City of Charleston officials continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia and have begun making initial preparations for potential local impacts. The city remains at OPCON 3, and Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to mo...

Storm-Related Operations to Continue Overnight and Until Nicole Has Passed

With local impacts from Tropical Storm Nicole expected to continue through midday tomorrow, representatives of the city's Emergency Management, Police, Fire, Stormwater, Public Services and Transportation departments will remain on emergency oper...

City of Charleston Closely Monitoring Tropical Storm Nicole

City of Charleston officials are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Nicole and have begun initial preparations for any potential impacts the storm may have here in the Lowcountry. City Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officia...

City of Charleston Continues to Prepare for Arrival of Hurricane Ian

City of Charleston officials continue to prepare for impacts from Hurricane Ian. City Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to monitor the storm’s track and coordinate preparation efforts.

Currently projected i...

Information will be added here before, during, and after a storm.

Tickets Now Available for 2023 MOJA Arts Festival Events

Advance tickets are now available for the annual MOJA Arts Festival, an 11-day celebration of African American and Caribbean culture, which will begin on Thursday, September 28, 2023, and feature a variety of performances, art exhibitions and community ce...

City of Charleston Announces Operation Neighborhood: Dunmovin

The city of Charleston Neighborhood Services Division will host its next "Operation Neighborhood" event on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Johns Island’s Dunmovin neighborhood.

Event details: Volunteers will gat...

City of Charleston Recreation Department Announces 2023 Huck Finn Fishing Festival

The city of Charleston Department of Recreation, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, will host its annual Huck Finn Fishing Festival at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Colonial Lake.

The catch-and-release e...

City of Charleston to Launch Peninsula Plan with Upcoming Community Open House Events

The city of Charleston will kick off a new peninsula planning process – formally known as The Charleston Peninsula: Our Community, Our Future, Our Plan – that will serve as a guide for the future of the Charleston peninsula over the ne...

August 31 Tropical Storm Idalia Recovery Update

Tropical Storm Idalia recovery efforts began at daybreak, as city crews fanned out across the city to complete initial damage assessments and clean-up.

The city shifted to OPCON 3 this morning, indicating a return to normal city operations, and the MEOC re...

August 30 Tropical Storm Idalia Update #2

The city of Charleston continues operating at OPCON 2 in tandem with Charleston County. The MEOC remains staffed with Emergency Management, Police, Fire and other essential personnel managing the city’s response to the storm.

Current forecast: As...

August 30 Hurricane Idalia Update #1

The city of Charleston is now operating at OPCON 2 in tandem with Charleston County. The MEOC remains staffed with Emergency Management, Police, Fire and other essential personnel managing the city’s response to the storm.

Current forecast: The p...

August 29 Hurricane Idalia Update #2

The city remains at OPCON 3 as officials continue to monitor Hurricane Idalia’s track and are prepare for impacts in the Charleston area. 

The city will shift to OPCON 2 at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30 in conjunction with the planned a...

August 29 Tropical Storm Idalia Update #1

City officials continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia’s track and are preparing for impacts in the Charleston area. The city remains at OPCON 3, in tandem with Charleston County, and city Emergency Management remains in close contact with sta...

City of Charleston Begins Initial Preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia

City of Charleston officials continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia and have begun making initial preparations for potential local impacts. The city remains at OPCON 3, and Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to mo...

City of Charleston Business & Neighborhood Services Division to Host ‘Local Government 101’ Event

The city of Charleston Business & Neighborhood Services Division will host a ‘Local Government 101’ event designed to provide citizens with a comprehensive understanding of city operations on Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 6 to 7:3...

Office of Cultural Affairs Announces 'We Were Made from Shadows' Exhibition

The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents We Were Made from Shadows, featuring large-scale installations and assemblage works by artists Hirona and Riki Matsuda, on view August 23 through September 10, 2023, at City Gallery, located at 34...

Aug. 15 City Council Meeting Relocated to City Hall

Due to an air conditioning issue in Founders Hall at Charles Towne Landing, next week’s City Council meeting has been relocated to City Hall (80 Broad Street). 

The meeting will proceed as scheduled, with Ways and Means beginning at 4 p....

20th Annual First Day Festival Set for Sunday, August 13

The city of Charleston’s annual First Day Festival will take place on Sunday, August 13, 2023 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Gaillard Center (2 George Street) and the South Carolina Aquarium (100 Aquarium Wharf). Each year, the festival serves as a cel...

City of Charleston, Bank On Charleston Coalition to Host Safe Banking Informational Workshop

The city of Charleston, in partnership with the Bank On Charleston Coalition, will host a safe banking informational workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at the Arthur W. Christopher Community Center, located at 265 Fishburne ...

Beresford Creek Bridge Replacement Project to Begin Aug. 15

Work will begin Tuesday, August 15 to replace the aging Beresford Creek Bridge on Daniel Island. During construction, which is expected to last 9 months, Daniel Island Drive will be closed at Beresford Creek, and vehicular traffic will be re-routed in the...

Annual ‘Operation Move-out’ Initiative to Begin July 31

The city of Charleston’s annual “Operation Move-out” initiative will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 31, and continue until 5 p.m. on Friday, August 4. During this time, tenants are asked to place trash items at the curb by 7...

Mayor John Tecklenburg, Charlamagne Tha God to Open 11th Annual Lowcountry Mental Health Conference

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and radio and TV personality Charlamagne Tha God will deliver opening remarks for the 11^th annual Lowcountry Mental Health Conference (LMHC), set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2023, in the Gaillard ...

City of Charleston Business Services Division to Host Annual Lender Matchmaking Event

The city of Charleston Business Services Division, in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), will host its annual Lender Matchmaking Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023 in ...

City of Charleston to Host Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project Information Sessions

The city of Charleston, in partnership with Charleston County, the Town of Mount Pleasant and the Preservation Society of Charleston, will host a series of public information sessions throughout July and August to provide an overview of the Gullah Geechee...

City of Charleston to Begin Traffic Signal Update at Meeting and Broad Streets

Work will begin Monday, July 17, 2023 to install updated traffic signal infrastructure at the intersection of Meeting and Broad Streets. The installation, which is scheduled to take thirty days to complete, will include replacement of the existing traffic...

Deputy Police Chief Chito Walker Appointed Interim Chief of Police

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg today announced the appointment of Deputy Chief Chito Walker as the Interim Chief of Police for the Charleston Police Department. Chief Walker, the department’s most senior Deputy Chief, will lead the department...

City Concludes Successful Intellicheck ID Verification Pilot, Launches Permanent Program

Following the successful completion of its 6-month pilot program, the city of Charleston today announced a permanent ID verification program in partnership with Intellicheck, Inc., an identity validation company that provides cutting-edge ID verification ...

Annual First Day Festival School Supply Drive Begins in Charleston

The city of Charleston is kicking off its annual school supply drive in preparation for the upcoming First Day Festival. Donations will be accepted through 5 p.m., Thursday, August 10, 2023, and pre-packed bags of school supplies will be distributed to st...

City of Charleston to Host Virtual Financial Management Workshop Series for Youth and Young Adults

This summer, the city of Charleston will host its third annual Virtual Summer Workshop Series on financial management for high school and college-aged students, and young adults from 10 to 11 a.m. each Thursday beginning July 13 and running through August...

City of Charleston to Offer Summer of Service Events for Local Youth

Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Charleston will host a series of Summer of Service leadership development opportunities, service projects and team building events for Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester County youth. The events will span four weeks through...

Statement of Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg on the Tragic Death of Police Chief Luther Reynolds

Today, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg released the following statement on the tragic death of Police Chief Luther Reynolds after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Chief Reynolds, 56, passed away peacefully in an area hospice facility on at 8:10...

City of Charleston Accepting Applications for Mayor’s Youth Commission

Applications are now being accepted for rising 9th through 12th (current 8th through 11th) grade students in Charleston County who are interested in serving on the City of Charleston Mayor’s Youth Commission. 

About the Commission: The M...

City of Charleston Hosting ‘Open Data Day’ Virtual Programs on Friday, March 3

The city of Charleston will join the worldwide celebration “Open Data Day” on Friday, March 3, 2023 with a number of virtual programs highlighting the benefits of access to data.

Charleston’s Open Data Day will be held virtual...

City of Charleston Hosting Small Business Opportunity Expo March 31 at Charleston Gaillard Center

Registration is now open for the City of Charleston’s 2023 Small Business Opportunity Expo, which will take place on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Charleston Gaillard Center. 

The purpose of the expo is for organiza...

City of Charleston Hosting Composting Workshops; New Drop Sites Opening in March

The city of Charleston and regional partners will host a series of free workshops for residents to learn about composting.

Workshops are designed to provide tools and resources to help residents get started composting, including information on the...

First Weekend of Charleston’s Increased Parking Enforcement Sees Only Eight Cars Towed

The Charleston Police Department’s increased weekend parking enforcement measures on King Street began as scheduled last Thursday night, and over the course of the first weekend, only eight cars had to be towed from the prohibited street spaces ...

Increased Parking Enforcement Measures Begins Feb. 9 as Part of CPD’s King Street Public Safety Plan

Increased Parking Enforcement Measures to Begin February 9 as Part of Charleston Police Department’s King Street Public Safety Plan

As part of the Charleston Police Department’s King Street safety plan – which includes stepped...

Mayor John J. Tecklenburg’s State of the City Address

The following State of the City Address was prepared for delivery by Mayor John J. Tecklenburg on January 24, 2023, at 6 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Sakran, members of City Council, honored guests, my fellow citizens:

What a difference a year makes.

Just 12 months ag...

City of Charleston to Begin Replacement of Long Creek Bridge on West Ashley Greenway

Contractors for the city of Charleston will begin a two-month bridge replacement project on the West Ashley Greenway Monday afternoon. The existing wooden bridge over Long Creek will be replaced with a new eight-foot-wide aluminum bridge.

The Long Creek Br...

City of Charleston to Hold AmeriCorps VISTA Virtual Information Session for 2023 Host Site Selection

The city of Charleston will hold a virtual information session for nonprofits and public agencies interested in this year’s AmeriCorps VISTA host site selection process on Thursday, January 19 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. 

AmeriCorps VISTA is the...

City of Charleston Announces New Mayor Pro Tempore, Committee Appointments

During last night's inaugural meeting of Charleston City Council for 2023, Council unanimously approved Mayor Tecklenburg’s recommendation of District Three Councilman Jason Sakran to serve as the city's new mayor pro tempore, ...

City of Charleston to Host Financial Empowerment Roundtable December 12

Mayor John Tecklenburg will host a Financial Empowerment Roundtable from 2:30 – 4 p.m. on December 12, 2022 in Council Chamber at City Hall, 80 Broad Street, to highlight information, resources and services available to residents facing financia...

Reminder: Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting to Take Place December 4, 2022

The city of Charleston’s annual Holiday Parade will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2022, beginning at 3 p.m. 

The parade will begin near Colonial Lake on Broad Street, will continue east on Broad Street to Meeting Street, where it wil...

Charleston Partners with Intellicheck to Equip King Street Area Businesses with ID Scanning App

City officials and Intellicheck, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDN) today announced the launch of a new pilot program aimed at tackling the problem of underage drinking. The six-month pilot will allow up to 31 King Street area bars and restaurants to use Intelli...

City of Charleston Announces Upcoming Holiday Events

As the holiday season approaches, the city of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs today announced its “Holiday Magic in Historic Charleston” calendar of city-produced holiday events and celebrations. Key dates include:

• Dec...

Little-Known Automatic Tax Cut Reduced City Property Tax Bills by $28 million in 2022

Last year, Charleston residents were told that city property taxes were set to rise in 2022.

So why did their actual property tax bills from the city go down?

As city C.F.O. Amy Wharton explained at a special City Council budget meeting last night, the answ...

City of Charleston Meets Federal Funding Milestone for Ashley River Crossing Project

The city of Charleston has reached a significant milestone for the Ashley River Crossing bicycle and pedestrian bridge by officially meeting all the requirements to use the federal grant funding awarded for the project.

The Ashley River Crossing will be ro...

City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs Announces 'Anonymous Ancestors'

The city of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs presents Anonymous Ancestors, on view from October 28, 2022 to January 29, 2023 at City Gallery, 34 Prioleau Street. City Gallery will host an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, Oc...

Following Successful Pilot, City of Charleston to Make Parking Rules on Upper King Street Permanent

After a successful pilot program lasting more than a year, the city of Charleston will soon make its weekend parking rules along King Street permanent.

The weekend parking rules, which prohibit street parking on King Street between Spring and Calhoun stree...

Anson Burial Memorial Plans Announced

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, Denny’s Chairman Brenda Lauderback, former General Director of Spoleto Festival USA Nigel Redden, sculptor Stephen Hayes and President of the Wells Fargo Foundation and head of Philanthropy and Community Impact...

Charleston’s Residential Compost Program Expands, Adds New Drop Sites with Regional Partners

Charleston’s residential compost program is now serving more people. All residents in the Charleston region can take their food scraps to participating drop sites – for free – to be composted locally. Food scraps are then sen...

Annual MOJA Arts Festival Continues Through October 9

The annual MOJA Arts Festival, a celebration of African-American and Caribbean culture, continues this week with a variety of free and ticketed performances, art displays and educational outreach.The festival highlights the many African-American and Carib...

October 3 Hurricane Ian Recovery Briefing

LATEST UPDATES

Damage reports: As of 3 p.m., 336 rapid neighborhood-level assessments and 100 FEMA preliminary damage assessments had been completed. In addition, 256 damage reports had been submitted through the city’s damage reporting ...

October 1 Hurricane Ian Recovery Briefing

LATEST UPDATES

As recovery efforts remain fully underway, the city of Charleston moved to OPCON-3 at noon today, returning the city to normal operations.

Damage reports: As of 11:30 a.m., 209 damage reports have been submitted through the city&...

September 30 Hurricane Ian PM Update

The city of Charleston moved to OPCON-2 at 8 p.m. this evening, as city crews continue recovery efforts that began this afternoon.

“While the city was fortunate to avoid a direct hit from Hurricane Ian, the impacts are still significant, with a n...

September 30 Hurricane Ian AM Update

September 29 Tropical Storm Ian AM Update

Charleston, S.C. – The city of Charleston remains in OPCON 2 as officials prepare for impacts from Tropical Storm Ian.

Emergency declaration/ordinances: On Thursday morning, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ian, Charleston Mayo...

September 28 Hurricane Ian PM Update

City of Charleston moved to OPCON 2 Wednesday at 4 p.m. as officials prepare for impacts from Hurricane Ian. City Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to monitor the storm’s track and coordinate preparation efforts.In ...

September 28 Hurricane Ian AM Update

City Offices Closing Thursday at 3 p.m., Five Parking Garages Opening Thursday at 5 p.m., Sandbag Distribution Extended, Additional City Events Cancelled 

City of Charleston officials continue to prepare for impacts from Hurricane Ian. City Emerge...

City of Charleston Continues to Prepare for Arrival of Hurricane Ian

City of Charleston officials continue to prepare for impacts from Hurricane Ian. City Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to monitor the storm’s track and coordinate preparation efforts.

Currently projected i...

City of Charleston Closely Monitoring Hurricane Ian

City of Charleston officials continue to monitor Hurricane Ian and have begun initial preparations for any potential impacts the storm may have here in the Lowcountry. City Emergency Management is working closely with state and regional officials to monit...

Charleston Police Respond to Stabbing Incident at Memminger Elementary School

Charleston Police Respond to Stabbing Incident at Memminger Elementary School

Charleston, S.C. - The Charleston Police Department responded to a stabbing incident at Memminger Elementary School, located at 20 Beaufain Street.

Wh...

The Charleston Peninsula: Our Community, Our Future, Our Plan

The city of Charleston is launching a new peninsula planning process that will serve as a guide for the future of the Charleston peninsula over the next 10-to-20 years.

Hurricane Preparedness Resources

Citizens are strongly encouraged to develop a safety plan in the event a major storm threatens the Charleston area. Here, you'll find answers to frequently asked questions, lifesaving hurricane preparedness tips, valuable storm tracking tools and more.

2023 Municipal Election Information

The filing period for individuals desiring to run as candidates in the City of Charleston’s November 7, 2023 Municipal General Election will open on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 12 PM and will close on Monday, August 21, 2023, at 12 PM.

Connect with the City of Charleston via text

As part of its customer service offerings, the city of Charleston is now using Citibot, an interactive text messaging and customer service tool for civic engagement with government.

With Citibot, residents and visitors of Charleston can use text message-ba...

Progress Implementing Charleston's Climate Action Plan

A new report outlining implementation progress of Charleston’s Climate Action Plan is now available.  

The 5-year Climate Action Plan was adopted by City Council in May 2021 and the report outlines initial progress from May 2021 through ...

Opportunities Available to Learn More about Charleston's New Climate Action Plan

A bold strategy to address our changing climate.  Charleston's new Climate Action Plan was created with assistance from hundreds of community members and formally adopted in May 2021 by City Council.  It is a 5-year strategic fr...