Construction Guide · Old Village, SC

Building Permits & Regulations in Old Village, SC: What to Know Before You Break Ground

Any exterior work or new construction in Old Village needs town-level permitting — but a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Old Village Historic District Commission has to happen first.

The Two-Step Approval Process

Before the Town of Mount Pleasant will issue a building permit, the Old Village Historic District Commission must approve a Certificate of Appropriateness under design guidelines last updated in 2023. Applications require a site survey documenting zoning setbacks, proposed height, existing and proposed lot coverage under the Building Area Ratio, flood zone and finish-floor elevation, and any protected trees on the lot.

A Contested Rule Worth Knowing About

Effective May 2025, the Town raised the accessory-structure height limit from 20 feet to 25 feet — a change that drew resident complaints over lost privacy from taller garages and accessory dwellings overlooking neighboring yards. Town Council has an active debate underway to revert the height limit to 15 feet and restore a 3-foot side setback in place of the current 6 feet. If your plans include a detached garage, carriage house, or accessory structure, confirm which standard is in effect before you finalize the design.

Confirm Directly Before You Finalize Plans

Reach out to the Town of Mount Pleasant's Building and Permit Center for the standard permitting process, and separately to the Historic District Preservation Commission for design review requirements specific to Old Village. Given the active debate over accessory structure rules, confirming current standards before finalizing plans is worth the phone call.

Planning to build or renovate in Old Village and want a process built around the current review requirements? Contact Chris Eller directly.