Charleston’s historic-building map could change by resolution, not a zoning amendment

Changing Charleston’s architectural inventory would no longer require a zoning-ordinance amendment under a proposal on the South Carolina city’s Planning Commission agenda for October 21. Future revisions would instead go through a majority vote by the Board of Architectural Review and adoption by City Council resolution.⁠[1][2][3]

The inventory is more than a historical reference. In the Old City and Historic Corridor districts, buildings listed in inventory Categories 1 through 4 generally face BAR review before demolition, removal or relocation. Those rules also cover structures more than 50 years old, whether or not they are inventory-listed.⁠[2]

The proposed change would not transfer the final adoption decision to the BAR. Although the draft’s heading describes allowing the board to adopt future revisions, its operative language explicitly reserves adoption to Council, following the board’s approval.⁠[1]

The agenda calls for adopting the “most recent architectural inventory.” But the 2004 Upper Peninsula survey named in the draft is already included in the existing code—not a first-time addition under this proposal.⁠[1][2][3]

City planning staff recommended approval. Commission materials say ordinance amendments receive a Planning Commission recommendation before a second public hearing at City Council. The commission’s October 21 outcome and any Council ratification remain unconfirmed in the records reviewed; this is a proposal, not a confirmed change in the rules.⁠[1][3][4]