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Solar site surveys · Charleston, SCRoof, attic and service panel captured in one visit, with the plan set built for the Charleston AHJ you submit into and the utility that serves the address.
The City of Charleston issues a residential solar building permit with an electrical sub-permit, and wants a sealed South Carolina structural letter, a roof plan with access pathways, a single-line diagram, and Board of Architectural Review approval in historic districts. Unincorporated areas go to Charleston County, which asks for structural, wind and seismic design analysis. Design loads are 150 mph wind and Seismic Design Category D2.
South Carolina state rules apply here, plus whatever the local AHJ amends.
City design criteria set a 150 mph design wind speed with wind-borne debris zone 2, which governs attachment count and uplift on every array.7
Charleston is Seismic Design Category D2, and the county's solar checklist explicitly asks for seismic as well as wind analysis.7,8
On historic buildings the BAR prefers rear slopes or accessory buildings, low-profile reversible mounting, painted conduit, and structural confirmation of load, wind load and uplift by a qualified engineer.9
The city sits on both Charleston County (effective January 29, 2021) and Berkeley County (December 17, 2018) flood maps, which matters for ground-level equipment on low sites.7
The main AHJs, and how the rest of the metro splits up.
Residential solar is a Solar Panel permit with a separate electrical sub-permit. Applications need building and electrical permit forms, a roof plan showing array locations and access pathways, a structural letter or plan sealed by an SC design professional, a single-line diagram and array specs, and a BAR application in historic districts. Inspections are electrical rough, electrical final and building final.6,10
Official page ↗In the Old and Historic District, Old City District, Landmark Overlay and Historic Corridor District, panels on Category 1 or 2 buildings must not be visible from the public right of way, and panels should stay low profile (no more than 8 inches above the roof), reversible, and avoid penetrating historic roofing where possible.9
Official page ↗For unincorporated areas the county asks for a structural analysis of the existing roof, wind and seismic design, a panel layout with clearances, fastening design and an electrical layout, with values for both building and electrical permits. Its residential solar form notes the county does not perform plan review on these submittals, and all work remains subject to field inspection.8,11
Official page ↗Each municipality enforces the same Council-adopted codes through its own permit office, and Charleston County handles unincorporated areas; the City of Charleston itself spans both Charleston and Berkeley counties.1,7,12
Check the customer's bill for the serving utility: DESC's Solar Choice rider and Santee Cooper's DG-25 rider treat exports very differently, from TOU-period netting with a November cash-out to hourly netting at 4.15 cents per kWh.15,16
Customers who applied on or after June 1, 2021 take the Solar Choice rider on Rate 5 time-of-use service, up to 20 kW AC. Installers use PowerClerk and the SC Generator Interconnection Procedures.17,15
Interconnection page ↗The state-owned utility's Distributed Generation Rider DG-25 allows residential systems up to the lesser of 20 kW or the customer's estimated maximum monthly demand, requires an interconnection application and fee, and adds a standby charge.16,18
Interconnection page ↗The same capture standard as every other South Carolina job, so the plan set is built on what the technician verified on site.
A Solar Panel permit with an electrical sub-permit, a roof plan showing arrays and access pathways, a structural letter sealed by an SC design professional, a single-line diagram with array specs, and a BAR application if the house is in a historic district.6
The City of Charleston's design criteria list a 150 mph design wind speed, with the city in wind-borne debris zone 2.7
Often, but with BAR review: on Category 1 or 2 buildings panels must not be visible from the public right of way, and all installations should be low profile and reversible.9
The county's residential solar form says it does not perform plan review on these submittals; the applicant certifies an engineer has approved the structure, and field inspections still apply.11
Not a solar panel installer alone: the city's guidance limits that license to panels and electrical work, so roof mounting or framing needs a residential builder, a specialty roofer or a general contractor with a roofing classification.6
State-level detail is on the South Carolina page; every location is on the solar site survey hub.
Roof, attic and service panel in one visit
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Explore →Every local fact on this page links to where it came from. Codes, programs and tariffs change: confirm the current requirement with the AHJ and the utility before you design.
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