Planning and Zoning

Application forms for rezoning requests can be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Department or downloaded from this site and must accompany a $250.00 non-refundable fee (excepting requests to establish or amend a Planned Development District).

Each request is presented to the Planning Commission for recommendation to County Council. The Planning Commission meets the fourth Tuesday of the month*. A completed rezoning application and associated fee are due by 5:00 PM at least 4 weeks prior to the scheduled meeting, typically the date of the previous month’s meeting*.

The process for rezoning takes approximately 5 months from the date of application submittal, unless the request is deferred, postponed, tabled, or defeated. County Council has final decision-making authority on requests for rezoning. All requests are published via the County website in the respective meeting agenda and posted with a yellow public meeting sign prior to the scheduled Planning Commission meeting.

PDF applications may be emailed to Planning and Zoning Administrative Support at .  Payment may be received online by following the prompts provided by the Department. 

All scheduled public meetings are open to the public. The applicant of any request for rezoning or his/her representative is expected to attend every scheduled public meeting.  Anyone with interest in the outcome of a requested rezoning is welcomed to attend the scheduled public meetings.  These meetings can also be viewed live via the Berkeley County Government Facebook Page.

*Unless otherwise stated.

Calendar for 2022 Planning Commission

Click here for the Rezoning Application

Requests for new or amended Planned Development (PD) Districts or Development Agreements contemplating more than 75 dwelling units or encompassing more than 75 acres are subject to County Council’s consideration under the Large-Scale Development Moratorium Process.  Before an applicant can begin developing the details of the proposed PD or Development Agreement through coordination with County staff and, subsequently, pursue the formal adoption process, County Council must first lift the moratorium.  This new process is intended to address public concerns around large-scale developments’ impacts on infrastructure and critical County services, including but not limited to: Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, schools, water and sewer, and especially roads and traffic. 

Council's determination to lift the moratorium will be based upon the development's private resources to address the following:

1. Roads, intersections, and traffic;
2. Public Safety including police, fire, and EMS;
3. Schools;
4. Water and sewer infrastructure;
5. Impacts to surrounding communities including but not limited to buffers and setbacks;
6. Input from surrounding communities including but not limited to a minimum of two (2) publicly noticed community meetings with record of attendance and provision of information intended to ensure a general awareness of proposed development;
7. Consideration of future easements for road and utility expansion and right of way;
8. Connectivity to surrounding communities;
9. Preservation of green space;
10. Traffic calming devices for roads in proposed development;
11. Impact on local business; and
12. Other government provided services.

To meet the 30-day public notice requirement, applications and $150 fee for Requests to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium should be submitted within 60 days prior to the scheduled Land Use Committee Meeting for which the item is intended to be considered.   

If an applicant’s Request to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium is denied, he/she may modify the proposal and re-apply in accordance with the same process described above.   If the Request is approved, the applicant may begin developing the details of the PD and/or DA with County Staff and, subsequently, pursue the typical formal adoption process.  Should a Request to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium be granted, there is no guarantee that the ultimate PD and/or Development Agreement will be approved as it, too, is subject to County Council’s final decision-making authority. 

Please see the adopted Ordinance linked here