Boat Lifts in Charleston, SC

Boat lift basics here

• Open-sided only. State rules say lifts have to be open, no enclosures. Enclosed boathouses aren't allowed.
• Creek width matters. Lifts aren't allowed on the narrowest creeks, so your creek's width decides if one can go in at all.
• It counts toward your size limit. When the state adds up your dock, the lift area goes in with the pierhead and float.
• Catwalks can be up to 3 feet wide.
• HOA review. Wild Dunes, for one, looks at boat lifts case by case.

Adding a lift to an existing dock

A lift adds square footage, so it usually needs a permit amendment or a new permit. A few small additions to a permitted dock, like a catwalk to an existing lift or a roof on an existing pierhead, can go through a general permit instead. Either way, it's approved before it's built. Dock Permits →

Lift repair

If your lift won't come up, hangs crooked, or the cables and motor are worn out, it can often be repaired. Dock Repair →