Planning & Zoning

Planning & Zoning Overview

Planning and Zoning, through the Building and Codes Department, works with the City’s residents, businesses, and area developers to define and implement the vision for the City by providing guidance for well-planned and sustainable long-term growth and development and provide any technical assistance they may require.

Department Services

The Building and Codes Department strives to provide exceptional customer service as we perform various services. Some of those services include:

Administer and enforce the Zoning Ordinance and Land Development Regulations.
Assessment of rezoning, variance, special exception, annexation, and telecommunication permit requests
Comprehensive planning
Serve as staff for the Planning Commission, Design Control Committee, and Board of Zoning Appeals
Review zoning permits for new construction, signs, pools, accessory structures, tree removal, and fences
Review site plans, subdivision plats, and planned district master plans for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments
Coordinate development plans with all appropriate agencies to ensure development meets the City, County, and State requirements.

Zoning & Land Development Ordinances

Zoning Ordinance is a primary tool for the City to carry out the land use element of the comprehensive plan. It ensures that development fits in with the existing and future needs of the City. The Zoning Ordinance also promotes public health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity, and the general welfare with the following:

Regulate building, structure, and land uses;
Protect and preserve scenic, historical, or ecologically sensitive areas;
Regulate population density and distribution;
Promotes efficient use of public infrastructure and services;

Land Development Ordinance regulates converting undeveloped land into subdivided lots for construction. It utilizes regulations to control site design, street layout, provisions for water and sewer service, and other matters related to the conversion of land for development to promote public health, safety, economy, good order, appearance, convenience, and general welfare of the City with the following:

Encourage the development of an economically sound and stable city.
Assure safe and convenient traffic access and circulation, both vehicular and pedestrian, in and through new land developments.
Ensure the provision of needed public open spaces and building sites in new land developments through the dedication or reservation of land for recreational, educational, transportation, and other public purposes.
Promote new development in sustainable areas and redevelopment of previously developed areas in harmony with the comprehensive plan and existing development patterns.

The Zoning and Land Development Ordinances contain information for citywide development rules by zoning districts and land development regulations, such as building setbacks, building heights, density, lot dimensions, impervious surface ratios, parking, signage, landscaping, tree protection, and development plan review processes. Both ordinances can be viewed in City of Hanahan Code of Ordinances.

The City maintains zoning maps showing residential, commercial, and industrial zoning districts. The Zoning Ordinance determines which land uses are permitted in each zone. The Zoning maps are kept in the Zoning offices at City Hall. The zoning districts for Hanahan can be viewed online at Berkeley County GIS.

Zoning Classifications

CP, Conservation/Preservation District
RSL, Single-Family Residential-Low Density District
RS, Single-Family Residential District
RSM, Single-Family Residential-Moderate Density District
RM, Multi-Family Residential District
RM-N, Multi-Family Residential-Neighborhood District
RT, Residential-Manufactured Housing District
RO, Residential/Office District
CG, General Commercial District
ID, Industrial District
TR, Town Residential District
TC, Town Center District

Zoning Enforcement

The Building and Codes Department regularly inspects and patrols the City to investigate suspected Zoning violations. Zoning violations usually involve the operation of a use in an area not zoned for that activity. Suspected violations may be reported to the Building and Codes Department.

For further information on zoning enforcement, please contact the Building and Codes office at 843-576-5259.