Daniel Island · City of Charleston · Berkeley County, South Carolina
Daniel Island Custom Home Builder
Six Daniel Island projects across Captain’s Island, Noble’s Point, Ralston Grove, Smythe Park and Cochran Park, led by a builder who is also a licensed real estate broker. Chris Eller evaluates the homesite, takes the design through the Daniel Island Architectural Review Board and builds the house, under one name from contract to keys.
Daniel Island is a master-planned community, and that changes how a house gets built here. Every new home and most exterior changes go through the Daniel Island Architectural Review Board before the City of Charleston will issue a permit, the remaining homesites are few and specific, and the best lots back up to marsh that carries its own state setbacks. Iconic Developments has completed five homes on the island, and every project starts the same way: read the homesite and the guidelines before anyone draws a line.
The Daniel Island ARB
The Architectural Review Board is the gate every Daniel Island home passes through. It reviews the site plan, elevations, massing, materials, colors and landscape against the island’s design guidelines, and it typically works in stages — a preliminary review of the concept, then a final review of construction drawings, with the landscape plan behind it.
The practical lesson: design to the guidelines from the first sketch. Porch depths, roof pitches, window proportions and setbacks that the board expects cost nothing to draw correctly at the start and a round of review — often several weeks — to fix later. We submit drawings that answer the board’s questions before they are asked.
Finding a Homesite
New homesites on Daniel Island are scarce. What remains comes up as resale lots, the occasional marsh-front parcel in the newer sections, and homesites sold with plans already in hand — including lots carrying preliminary ARB approval, which can save months.
Before you contract on a lot, the questions are buildability questions: where the critical line sits, how much of the parcel the buffers take, what the flood zone requires at the foundation, and whether the approved or expected house actually fits your program. That review is free — see the homesite review below.
Marsh, Elevation and Flood Zones
Much of Daniel Island’s most valuable land fronts Beresford Creek, the Wando and the Cooper. Marsh-front lots bring the OCRM critical line and its buffer, and many island lots sit in AE flood zones that set the finished-floor elevation and push the living space up a level.
That elevation decision drives the budget, the stair and elevator plan, and how the ground level is used. Finished rooms below the flood elevation can be built as flex space, but they do not count as bedrooms or heated square footage — something buyers and appraisers notice. We plan the ground level for parking, storage and flex use from day one.
City of Charleston, Berkeley County
Daniel Island is part of the City of Charleston but sits in Berkeley County, ZIP 29492. Building permits and inspections come from the City; property tax, school assignment and the property record come from Berkeley County.
That split matters when you budget carrying costs during construction and when you compare a Daniel Island build against Mount Pleasant or the peninsula. We walk clients through both sides before the land contract is signed.
Building for Island Life
Daniel Island homes are lived in from the porch and the trail. The island has hundreds of acres of parks and more than 25 miles of trails, so our plans favor deep front porches, screened rear porches, garage space sized for golf carts and bikes, and a pre-wired or installed residential elevator in any home with a raised first floor.
Under the finishes, the envelope is where we put the money: spray foam insulation, impact-rated glazing where the exposure calls for it, and mechanical systems sized for a coastal summer rather than a code minimum.
Builder and Broker, One Team
Chris Eller holds both a South Carolina residential builder’s license and a real estate broker’s license. On Daniel Island that means one person can price the house you want to build against what the finished home will be worth, tell you whether a resale lot is priced as a lot or as a teardown, and see the ARB and flood-zone problems before you are under contract.
Brokerage services are provided through The Cassina Group; construction is provided by Iconic Developments. If you are buying new construction from another builder on the island, see builder-broker buyer representation.
Daniel Island Projects
Captain’s Island
Elevated four-bedroom home on a pier foundation with double front porches.
3,585 sq ft · 2020 · Built
Apprentice Street
Corner lot in Noble’s Point, Daniel Island Park, facing a private neighborhood park.
Noble’s Point · 2021 · Built
Brailsford Street
Six-bedroom farmhouse-style home in Ralston Grove.
Ralston Grove · 2023 · Built
Chimney Back Street
Five-bedroom elevated home with 10-foot ceilings and a residential elevator.
4,048 sq ft · 2020 · Built
Oak Overhang
Elevated marsh-front home in Smythe Park backing a protected wetland buffer.
3,083 sq ft · 2021 · Built
807 Dunham Street
Marsh-front home in Cochran Park with Cooper River views.
3,882 sq ft · 2023 · Seller RepresentedFive of the six were built by Iconic Developments. On 807 Dunham Street, Chris Eller represented the seller through The Cassina Group. More work in the photo gallery.
Free · No Obligation
Have Chris review a Daniel Island homesite
Send an address, a lot number or an MLS number. Chris will pull the plat and flood map and walk you through what the lot will and won’t support — before you sign anything.
- Buildable area after setbacks, buffers and the critical line
- Flood zone, likely finished-floor height and foundation type
- What the ARB will expect for massing, porches and materials
- Whether the asking price reads as a lot price or a teardown price
- A realistic schedule from contract to move-in
At a Glance
| Service Area | Daniel Island, Charleston, SC 29492 — including Daniel Island Park, Ralston Creek, Smythe Park, Cochran Park and Captain’s Island |
|---|---|
| Services | Custom homes, homesite evaluation, ARB submittals, renovations and additions |
| Review Body | Daniel Island Architectural Review Board, then City of Charleston permitting |
| Licenses | SC Residential Builder · SC Real Estate Broker (since 2003) |
| Designations | Certified Master Builder of South Carolina · NAHB Certified Graduate Builder · Certified Green Professional · CLHMS |
| Brokerage | Broker Associate, The Cassina Group |
| Contract | Cost-plus with a fixed markup set up front; every draw backed by invoices |
| Direct Line | 843-343-3359 |
Daniel Island Questions
Who builds custom homes on Daniel Island?
Several Charleston builders work on Daniel Island. Iconic Developments has built homes in Captain’s Island, Noble’s Point, Ralston Grove and Smythe Park, and its founder, Chris Eller, is both a licensed South Carolina residential builder and a licensed real estate broker — so the homesite, the ARB approval and the construction are handled by one accountable person.
How does the Daniel Island ARB approval process work?
Plans go to the Daniel Island Architectural Review Board before the City of Charleston issues a building permit. The board reviews the site plan, elevations, materials, colors and landscape in stages, typically a preliminary review of the concept and a final review of construction drawings. Designing to the guidelines from the start is the single biggest factor in how many review rounds a house needs.
Do I need ARB approval to renovate or add a pool on Daniel Island?
In most cases, yes. Exterior changes — additions, pools, fences, screened porches, color changes and significant landscape work — generally need ARB approval before work starts. Interior-only renovations usually do not. Check with the ARB for your specific project before you hire a contractor.
Are there still lots for sale on Daniel Island?
A few. Most new building now happens on resale homesites, the last marsh-front parcels in the newer sections, and occasional lots sold with plans or preliminary ARB approval in place. Inventory is thin, so the lots that come up are worth evaluating quickly and carefully.
Is Daniel Island in Charleston or Berkeley County?
Both. Daniel Island is inside the City of Charleston, which issues building permits, and inside Berkeley County, which handles property tax, schools and the property record. The ZIP code is 29492.
How much does it cost to build a custom home on Daniel Island?
It depends on the lot more than the square footage: flood zone and foundation type, marsh-front buffers, elevator and porch program, and the finish level the ARB and the neighborhood expect. Rather than quote a misleading average, Iconic Developments prices your plan on your lot, and works cost-plus with a fixed markup so every dollar is visible.
How long does it take to build a home on Daniel Island?
Plan on design and ARB review before permit, then roughly 12 to 18 months of construction for a custom home, depending on size, elevation and finishes. Lots that come with plans or preliminary approval can shorten the front end considerably.
Can I build an elevated home with an elevator on Daniel Island?
Yes, and on flood-zone lots it is often the right answer. Elevated homes with ground-level parking and a residential elevator are common on the island, and the ARB reviews the foundation screening, stairs and overall height as part of the design. Plan the elevator shaft from the first drawing even if you install the cab later.
Related Resources
- Build on Your Lot in Charleston
- Land and Lot Acquisition
- The Design-Build Process
- New Construction Buyer’s Agent
- Living in Daniel Island Park
- Nowell Creek Village Guide
- Isle of Palms Custom Builder
- James Island Home Builder
- Old Village Custom Home Builder
- Downtown Charleston Custom Home Builder
Building on Daniel Island? Start with the lot.
Call Chris directly. You will talk to the builder and broker who will be on your job site, not a sales office.
Construction and design-build services are provided by Iconic Developments, LLC, a licensed South Carolina residential builder. Chris Eller is also a licensed South Carolina Real Estate Broker Associate with The Cassina Group; any real estate brokerage services, including buyer or seller representation, are provided through The Cassina Group. Iconic Developments does not list or sell real estate. Review-board, permitting and code information on this page is general guidance current as of October 2026 — confirm requirements for a specific parcel with the governing authority before you buy or design.