Three sets of rules on one island
About half of James Island is inside the City of Charleston. The rest is the Town of James Island or unincorporated Charleston County. Your address decides which one you deal with, on top of the state permit.
- Town of James Island. Since May 1, 2026, the Town handles its own new building permits and inspections. Its waterfront rules also call for site plan review on community and commercial docks.
- City of Charleston or Charleston County. Depending on your address, one of these handles local review.
- Private docks and local permits. Check with the Town, City or County, depending on your address.
What we do on James Island
New docks, repairs and rebuilds, floating docks, jet docks, boat lifts, and marsh-side bulkheads. Docks here range a lot. One 2026 state notice on Clark Sound was for a 200-foot timber walkway without handrails out to an uncovered fixed pierhead, with an aluminum gangway. Another on the island listed a covered pierhead, a floating dock and a jet dock. We'd rather build the dock your lot needs than the biggest one the rules allow.
Not sure which side you're on?
Charleston County has a lookup that shows which jurisdiction your address is in. Or call (854) 205-2740 and we'll help you figure it out.