Charleston's Citizen Services Desk, 843-724-7311, takes most questions. Police non-emergency: 843-743-7200. Mayor William Cogswell: 843-724-7396.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Names, phones and emails come from the City of Charleston’s City Council page, the mayor’s page and each department’s own page.

Start with the Citizen Services Desk. It takes questions and service requests for every city department, from missed trash to flooded streets, and routes them. For anything else, here is who to call.

Who to call first

Mayor

Mayor William Cogswell, City Hall, 80 Broad St. Phone 843-724-7396, Cogswellw@charleston-sc.gov.

City Council

Charleston has 12 council districts. Find yours on the city’s MapNet map: open Additional Layers, then City Council Districts. Phone numbers are listed where the member’s city page gives one.

District Council member Phone Email
1 Boyd Gregg 843-408-9798 greggb@charleston-sc.gov
2 Kevin Shealy 843-442-6680 shealyk@charleston-sc.gov
3 Jim McBride mcbridej@charleston-sc.gov
4 Aaron Tobias Polkey 843-670-1876 polkeya@charleston-sc.gov
5 Karl L. Brady Jr. bradyk@charleston-sc.gov
6 Ben D’Allesandro 843-693-1146 d’allesandrob@charleston-sc.gov
7 Perry K. Waring 843-763-5388 waringp@charleston-sc.gov
8 Michael S. Seekings seekingsm@charleston-sc.gov
9 William P. Tinkler tinklerw@charleston-sc.gov
10 Stephen Bowden bowdens@charleston-sc.gov
11 Ross A. Appel appelr@charleston-sc.gov
12 Leslie Skardon 843-469-2244 skardonl@charleston-sc.gov

Council meets at 5 p.m. on scheduled Tuesdays at City Hall; the next meetings are Oct. 13 and Oct. 27. All dates are in our public notices guide.

City departments

Need Office Phone
Agendas, minutes, city records Clerk of Council, 80 Broad St. 843-724-3727
Trash and yard waste Environmental Services, 2150 Milford St. 843-720-3891
Building permits, inspections Development and Construction Services, 2 George St. 843-577-5550
Zoning, BAR, Planning Commission, zoning complaints Planning and Preservation, 2 George St. 843-724-3765
Business licenses Revenue Collections 843-724-3711
Tour and tourism enforcement Livability and Tourism, 200 Meeting St. 843-805-3226
Recreation programs, parks Recreation Department, 823 Meeting St. 843-724-7327
Police front desk Charleston Police Department, 180 Lockwood Blvd. 843-577-7434
Accessibility accommodations at meetings ADA coordinator 843-577-1389

Code and zoning violations are enforced through the city’s Livability Court; report one through the Citizen Support Center or at 843-724-3765.

Utilities

The city does not run the power or water systems.

  • Water and sewer: Charleston Water System, 843-727-6800; start or stop service.
  • Garbage and yard waste: the city, above. Recycling: Charleston County Environmental Management, 843-720-7111.
  • Power outages: see our power outages guide.

Police

Animals

The city’s website does not list a separate animal control number. For a lost or found pet, Charleston Animal Society’s number is 843-747-4849. For an animal that is a danger to people, call 911.

What this means for you

  • Save 843-724-7311 for city problems and 843-743-7200 for police matters that are not emergencies.
  • Find your council district on MapNet before you call or email.
  • Water is Charleston Water System, not the city.

Related guides: public notices, trash and recycling and moving to Charleston.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Charleston police non-emergency number?

The Charleston Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch number is 843-743-7200. For an emergency, call 911.

Who is the mayor of Charleston, South Carolina?

William Cogswell. The mayor’s office is at City Hall, 80 Broad St., and its phone number is 843-724-7396.

How do I find my Charleston City Council district?

Open the city’s MapNet map, choose Additional Layers, then City Council Districts, and search your address. Charleston has 12 council districts.

Who do I call for a city service problem in Charleston?

The Citizen Services Desk, 843-724-7311 or citizenservices@charleston-sc.gov, handles most city questions and service requests, including missed trash pickup and street flooding.

Who provides water in Charleston?

Charleston Water System, 843-727-6800. Start or stop service through its online form.