How to Join the City?

Do you really get a tax credit & reduced water rates if you join the City?
Yes, all home or business owners in West Ashley that qualify to join (aka "annex into") the City receive Charleston's property tax credit and a huge reduction on their CWS bills. Homes in the St. Andrews PSD (County jurisdiction) do not qualify. You must join the City to receive the discounts. It is free to apply.

I live in Charleston, but not really?
You work here, shop here and play on a City rec league. You hike or bike on the City's greenways and bikeways, and entertain your four-legged friends at the City's parks. Charleston feels like your home town, but, are you really a part of the City?

If you live in one of the small areas in the middle of town that still haven't been annexed into the city limits of Charleston, then you aren't really a resident of Charleston. That means you pay more in property taxes than City residents, you can't vote in City elections, and you don't have immediate access to the services of the Charleston fire and police departments, to name just a few advantages you're missing. Now is your opportunity to change all of that by annexing into the City and finally making Charleston your official home town.

In South Carolina, residents are afforded the opportunity to specifically request as an individual (or group of neighbors) to incorporate into the surrounding City. The City of Charleston proactively notifies individuals and businesses in county 'enclaves' or 'pockets' of their eligibility to transfer, which means the City is now reaching out to the residents and business owners of those areas to offer them the advantages of annexation. County 'enclaves' are small areas within the City that are surrounded by or touching the City of Charleston but are still under the jurisdiction of Charleston County. New residents to county enclaves are often surprised to learn their homes or businesses are not a part of the City of Charleston. We have decided that it's time to finally unify the community by offering annexation to these areas of the City.

Want to know more?

Join Charleston City has gone diGiTaL!
Speak with me (Ana Emelianoff, our annexation coordinator) directly through Plaxo(R), LinkedIN(R), and FACEBOOK(R). Our name is "Join Charleston City." Ask questions, get answers and read other's great experiences with joining the city.

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RELATED DOCUMENTS

Application to Join (West Ashley Version)

Application to Join (Johns Island Version)

Application to Join (Cainhoy-St. Thomas Version)

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RELATED LINKS

West Ashley - How to Join the City of Charleston

Cainhoy & St. Thomas Is. - How to Join the City of Charleston