Leash laws in Charleston, SC: state, town and park rules
South Carolina leaves leash rules up to each county and town, and every one around here requires your dog on a leash in public unless youâre in a posted off-leash area. Leash length is set locally too, so hereâs what each one says.
Leash laws by place
| Place | Leash required? | Max length | Off-leash exceptions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (state) | Only where a county or town opts in (§ 47-3-50). State parks: yes | State parks: 6 ft | None in state parks | SC Code Title 47 Ch. 3 · § 51-3-145(P) |
| City of Charleston (incl. Daniel Island and city parts of West Ashley, James Island and Johns Island) | Yes: streets, sidewalks, parks, athletic fields | 8 ft | City parks or areas posted for âstrict voice control.â No dogs on tennis courts or fenced athletic fields, even leashed | City Code §§ 5-1, 5-4, 5-5 |
| Mount Pleasant | Yes, âin every area of Townâ | 8 ft | Designated dog parks, or âanywhere it is explicitly stated that dogs may be off-leashâ | Town Code ch. 90 (§ 90.01) · Leash Up MTP |
| North Charleston | Yes: streets, sidewalks, parks, public spaces | Not stated (leash or chain strong enough for the dog) | The code also allows a dog âat heel and securely muzzled.â No off-leash rule in the code; follow posted dog park rules | City Code §§ 4-2, 4-5 |
| Charleston County (unincorporated areas) | Yes. The county bans letting animals run at large off your own property | Not stated | Hunting dogs while actually hunting | County Code ch. 3 (Ord. 2358, 2025) |
| Town of James Island | Yes (based on the countyâs rules) | Not stated | None stated | Town Code ch. 90 (§ 90.01) |
| Isle of Palms | Yes, a âstrong leash, securely and continuously heldâ | Not stated | Beach only, at set hours, with a leash in hand. Beach hours | Ord. 2021-16 (§ 6-2-14) · City: Dogs on the Beach |
| Sullivanâs Island | Yes, except during beach off-leash hours | 10 ft | Beach only, at set morning hours, with a leash in hand. Not on beach paths or access points. Town dog permit required. Beach hours | Town Code § 90.18 |
| Folly Beach | Yes, leash âsecurely attachedâ to the collar or harness | Not stated | Only registered FIDO Club members, on the beach at set times. No dogs on the beach 10amâ6pm MayâSept. Beach hours | City Code § 95.08 |
| Kiawah Island | Yes, âleashed at all times outsideâ unless in a fenced area | Not stated on the Town page | Beach only: Dog Use Area dawn to dusk year-round, rest of beach dawn to dusk Oct 16âFeb 28. Never in critical habitat. No e-collars | Town: Dog Leash Regulations |
| Seabrook Island | Beach zones: leashed in some areas and hours | 16 ft (beach) | Green zone: off leash outside 10amâ5pm AprâSept and any time OctâMar, if âeffectively controlled.â Yellow zone always leashed; red zone no pets | Town: Beach Rules |
| Summerville | Dogs may not be âat large.â The code doesnât spell out a leash | Not stated | None stated | Town Code § 4-81 |
| Charleston County Parks (James Island, Palmetto Islands, Wannamaker and more) | Yes, âattended and, on a leashâ | 6 ft | Officially designated off-leash dog parks | CCPRC 2026 Rules, Section 8 |
Does South Carolina have a statewide leash law?
Not for everywhere. Hereâs how the state code works:
- State law is opt-in. SC Code § 47-3-50 makes it unlawful to âallow his dog to run at large off of property owned, rented, or controlled by him,â but only âin any county or municipality adopting penalty provisions pursuant to the provisions of this article.â
- What ârunning at largeâ means. A dog is running at large âif off the premises of the owner or keeper and not under the physical control of the owner or keeper by means of a leash or other similar restraining deviceâ (§ 47-3-10). The state sets no leash length.
- Counties and towns make the rules. Each âmay enact ordinances and promulgate regulations for the care and control of dogsâ (§ 47-3-20), and nothing limits their power âto prohibit animals from running at largeâ (§ 47-3-70).
- State parks are the exception. You canât bring a dog into a state park âunless it is crated, caged, or upon a leash not longer than six feet or otherwise under physically restrictive control at all timesâ (§ 51-3-145(P)).
Bottom line: around Charleston, plan on a leash everywhere outside your own yard, an official off-leash park, or a beachâs off-leash hours. An 8-foot leash is the longest allowed in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, and 6 feet is the longest in county and state parks.
Good to know
- Voice control isnât a leash. Charlestonâs code says âAn electric collar is not a form of restraint,â and Kiawah and Seabrook count voice control and e-collars as off leash.
- Mount Pleasant fines listed by the Town: â$163.50â for a first offense and â$361.25â after that (Leash Up MTP).
- Off-leash parks: see our off-leash dog parks guide. Beach hours by season are on our beach rules page.
Rules change. Check posted signs and the official source before you go. Not legal advice. Sources checked 2026-10-19.