OWNA Charleston

Date: May 8 @ 5:30 PM at 45 Beverly Road

The following Board members were in attendance – Ron Sassard, Patricia Allen, Barbara Stroud, Sharon Philips, Katie Lansbury, Halley Manett

LIVABILITY

1. Special guest, Dan Riccio, City of Charleston Director of Livability and Tourism opened up the meeting with background on the Department of Livability.

A. He discussed that LANDSCAPE COMPANIES who are hired to do yard work are required to take lawn debris with them and should not leave limbs or bags of leaves on the street. **Please see ordinance excerpts at the end of this post**

B. Only homeowners are allowed to place lawn debris on the curb of their home.

a. Leaves should be contained and collected by each property where lawn maintenance is being performed. Certainly blowing them into ditches or onto the property of others is not allowed and would subject the owner of the property where this is being done to a fine regardless of who is doing the work.

C. Contractors are not permitted to perform noise causing yard work on Sundays – this is in violation of the noise ordinance.

D. Homelessness falls under the Homelessness Coordinator who provides resources. The POLICE should be contacted for homelessness (not Livability/Citizen Services) – The police department has a team staffed to help those who are seeking it.

a. 99% of the time, the individuals are not interested in resources.

E. Anyone concerned about short term rentals or noise issues should reach out directly to Dan at 843-724-3711.

a. The City has sophisticated software that allows them to investigate whether or not the proper permits are in place.

b.  29 days or less is a short term rental. 30 days or more is considered a long term rental.

F. The Citizen’s Service desk allows you to log a complaint and upload a photo which will be assigned to the proper department.

G. After hours noise complaints should be made to the POLICE department.

H. Animal Service complaints (noise complaints or not cleaning up properly) should be directed to 843-743-7200.

I. Sharon asked about how the process works to get a short term rental permit.

a. Dan relayed that you have to go through a rigorous fire marshal inspection.

b. A stove is not permitted (microwave and refrigerator is permitted).

c. The property is assessed for flooding.

d. Must be a 4% tax property – owner must live onsite for at least 180 days per year.

e. Sprinklers are typically required.

f. State, City and County receive a portion of the rental revenue.

g. A sign must be posted for 30 days while the property is under review.

h. After the STR permit is approved by the City Zoning, neighbors have 5 days to file an appeal against the STR. This will require attending the Zoning Board of Appeal and explaining the reason for opposition.

J. Please see follow up at the end of the meeting notes for additional ordinance excerpts …

OTHER NEWS

2. Barbara shared the exciting news that the OWNA website is live at www.ownacharleston.com! 

3. Halley is moving to Parkshore at the end of June. Ron thanked Halley for all of her wonderful service to the OWNA Board – she will be greatly missed.

❗️Due to Halley’s upcoming departure, please turn in membership forms to 23 Stocker Drive…

***End of Meeting Notes***

👉 Follow up from Dan Riccio – Please see below ordinance excerpts:

Contractors/landscapers-

Sec. 14-51. – Removal of contractor and builder refuse.

The city shall not collect refuse, bricks, lumber, mortar, plaster, roofing, guttering, shavings, tree debris and all other like material which is generated by a contractor or builder on behalf of an owner or resident. The same shall be removed by the contractor or builder, or owner or resident of the premises having hired the contractor or builder, each being jointly and severally responsible for such removal. This section shall apply to all residential and/or commercial construction, renovation or demolition projects

Depositing waste into the storm drain-

Sec. 14-5. – Duty of owners and waste disposal prohibitions.

(c) It shall be unlawful to sweep or push litter from buildings, property, sidewalks and strips into streets, sidewalks and the storm drainage system. Sidewalk and strip sweepings must be picked up and put into household or commercial material containers.

Building construction-

Sec. 21-17. – Building construction operation noise.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use or cause the use of any mechanical equipment or tool operated by fuel or electric power in the building, construction, repair, renovation, or demolition operations, including, but not limited to, pile drivers, excavators, backhoes, pneumatic hammers, derricks, cranes, steam or electric hoists, the use of which causes loud and repetitive noises in the city other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays. No such construction operations which cause loud and repetitive noises shall occur on Sundays or on the following city holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

The following noises shall be exempt from the prohibition of subsection (a) (5)Repairs, maintenance, or indoor remodeling that is completed entirely by the homeowner and where the noise is contained completely within the structure.(6)Work performed substantially by a homeowner on their own home.