Established in 1897, Dorchester County was formed from land previously located in Colleton County. The name “Dorchester” was indirectly derived from Dorchester, England by way of Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Dorchester County boasts award-winning school districts and one of the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in North America. Dorchester County’s natural beauty and unwavering sense of community are what makes it the best county in South Carolina to build a business and raise a family.
Dorchester County is home to the:
City of North Charleston
Town of Summerville
Town of Ridgeville
Town of St. George (County Seat)
Town of Harleyville
Town of Reevesville
Town of Lincolnville
Communities of Dorchester, Grover, Knightsville, Ladson and Texas
Form of Government
Dorchester County operates under a Council-Administrator form of government and has over 800 full-time employees. A seven-member County Council is elected by district and provides policy direction to the County.
The County Administrator serves as County Council’s agent in administrative matters. This position has oversight over all County government operations with the exceptions of departments governed by elected officials and special districts.
The County Administrator is assisted by a Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Administrator of Public Safety and Assistant Administrator of Community Services.
Dorchester County operates under a Council-Administrator form of government.
The County Administrator serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the county. This position is appointed directly by the Council and has administrative oversight over all operations of the County government with the exceptions of departments governed by elected officials and special districts.
The County Administrator is responsible for coordinating all departmental activities, studying administrative procedures and organization, and recommending changes to improve the operations of County government, reviewing budget requests and making recommendations to the Council. It is the responsibility of the County Administrator to effectively implement all decisions, policies, ordinances, and motions made by the County Council.
Mr. Jason L. Ward has served as the County Administrator since 2004.
The Parks and Recreation Department strives to provide sustainable recreational, cultural, and leisure opportunities that complement the diverse and progressive nature of our community and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Under the leadership of Melissa Hopkins, Chief Building Official, the Building Services Department is responsible for the issuance of building permits both residential and commercial, new construction and renovations. The department is also tasked with conducting field inspections throughout the construction process to verify code compliance.
Note: If you are requesting a next day inspection, you must contact the Building Services office, no later than, 3:00 PM the business day prior to the date requested.Email: InspectionRequests@DorchesterCountySC.gov
Mission To ensure the protection of life, health and property which we regard as a solemn responsibility.
Goal
To be ever mindful of the needs of the community and to serve the citizens and other customers with the highest degree of professionalism, courtesy and resourcefulness.
Building Code Requirements All construction in Dorchester County must comply with all applicable building code requirements as outlined below:
2021 International Building Code, January 1, 2023
2021 International Fire Code, January 1, 2023
2021 International Plumbing Code, January 1, 2023
2021 International Mechanical Code, January 1, 2023
2021 International Fuel Gas Code, January 1, 2023
2020 National Electric Code, January 1, 2023
2021 International Residential Code, January 1, 2023
2009 International Energy Conservation Code, January 1, 2016
2021 International Existing Building Code, January 1, 2023
Circuit Court and the Clerk of Court office is located at the Dorchester County Courthouse.
Family Court is located at the Troy Knight Judicial Complex (212 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483)
General Overview
The Clerk of Court provides administrative support for the First Judicial Circuit Court and Family Court. This includes General Sessions, Common Pleas, Family and Juvenile Court.
In General Sessions, the Clerk of Court is responsible for accepting and maintaining all warrants and posting bonds.
In Common Pleas, the Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining all paperwork in the civil cases, scheduling jury and non-jury trials as well as scheduling all motions that need to be heard.
In Family Court, the Clerk of Court maintains all records regarding anything involving domestic and family relationships in nature. The Clerk of Court is required to schedule hearings, process and disburse child support payments as well as determine and schedule hearings for past due child support payments.
In Juvenile Court, the Clerk of Court office is responsible for maintaining all paperwork as well as scheduling all hearings for the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The Planning and Zoning Department oversees the Zoning & Land Development Standards to preserve the highest quality of life for Dorchester County residents.
Staff is responsible for:
Administering the zoning ordinances
Assisting with the permit process
Staffing the Board of Zoning Appeals
Staffing the Planning Commission
Reviewing tree removal permits.
Overseeing the Comprehensive Plan
Insuring proper zoning of property
Zoning Verification Letter Requests email to: DCGPlanning@dorchestercountysc.gov
** Zoning letter requests are not same day please allow 10 to 15 business days for your request.
The Public Works Department oversees the engineering and maintenance of Dorchester County’s roads and drainage, provides recycling to all Dorchester County residents through the use of the County’s Convenience Sites, and ensures that all waste generated in Dorchester County is disposed of in accordance with state and federal law.
The Public Works Department is staffed by 73 full-time and 38 part-time staff members. Mr. Jason Carraher, PE has led the Public Works Department since 2014.
Engineering
The primary responsibilities of the Engineering Division is the implementation of the County Capital Projects that include roadway improvements, stormwater improvements, and engineering and construction oversight for new facilities.
Solid Waste & Recycling
The Solid Waste Division is responsible for maintaining the County Convenience Sites, and to ensure that all solid waste generated in Dorchester County is disposed of in accordance with State and Federal Laws.
Operations
The Operations Division maintains and repairs roads and drainage systems which have been accepted into the Dorchester County road maintenance system.
Illegal Dumping
The Solid Waste Environmental Services Officers are responsible for conducting investigations involving illegal dumping of any solid waste or other non-hazardous material on public and private property.
It is the mission of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office to improve the quality of life by providing a safe environment for all people within our county.
This is done by collaborative efforts of the Sheriff’s office and the community. We will maintain a high standard of professional accountability to our citizens, always being mindful to be fiscally responsible. We will serve all people of Dorchester County with dignity, respect, fairness, and compassion.
Our agency has the responsibility to serve our citizens by enforcing federal state and local laws while holding ourselves to the highest standards of performance and ethics. Our agency will serve the citizens, placing a strong emphasis on customer service, effective enforcement strategies, and problem-solving. We are dedicated to the protection of life, property, the constitution of this State and the constitution of the United States of America.
Accreditation
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be recognized as a South Carolina Law Enforcement Accredited Agency. South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (SCLEA) is the official South Carolina state accrediting authority for law enforcement agencies. SCLEA is an initiative of the S.C. Police Chiefs’ Association and S.C. Sheriffs’ Association. The program requires agencies seeking accreditation to meet 243 law enforcement related standards.
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office initially received accreditation through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program in 2016 and has been reaccredited twice, most recently in 2022.
Community Engagement
Sheriff L.C. Knight believes it is important to have open lines of communication with the communities we serve.
The Neighborhood Watch program is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country. It maintains a critical two-way dialogue between citizens and law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer.
If you are interested in starting a neighborhood watch program, or if you would like to request the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office presence at a Crime Watch Meeting please contact:
