We would like to remind all pet owners that pets off leash are illegal and not allowed on Daniel Island per our governing documents as well as City of Charleston Ordinances. Violators could face a stiff fine or be held personally liable if someone or their pet were to get hurt by an incident or attack.
We take these matters very seriously and wanted to remind everyone of the rules and ordinances set forth by the City of Charleston Police and Animal Services Departments and how the DIPOA partners together to educate and enforce the rules that apply to all owners.
Please remember, if you are charged at or attacked by a pet that is either on a leash or off, please report the incident immediately, following the below protocols:
The resident should immediately contact the City of Charleston Consolidated Dispatch Center at 843-743-7200 for all concerns regarding public safety (911 if there is any immediate danger). The dispatcher will contact the on-duty City of Charleston Animal Services officer during normal business hours. During all other hours, the City of Charleston Police officers are dispatched to assist, and Animal Services will follow up (if necessary) during the next business day. If any resident has questions or would like to speak directly with Animal Services, they should call 843-720-3915 and speak with Courtney Bayles who is the supervisor of the Animal Services unit. Per Office Bayles, should Animal Services respond to an off-leash complaint, they remind owners that the complainant would need to be willing to go to court so that the proper process is followed, and the proper outcome is achieved.
To review what the Daniel Island CC&Rs and the City of Charleston Ordinances state regarding animal behavior/control see below:
Daniel Island CC&Rs State:
Exhibit C
(f) Raising, breeding or keeping of animals, livestock, and poultry (of any kind). A reasonable number of dogs, cats, or other usual and common household pets may be permitted in a Unit; however, those animals which in the sole discretion of the Board, make objectionable noise, endanger the health or safety of, or constitute a nuisance or inconvenience to the occupants of other Units shall be removed by the Owner upon request of the Board. Dogs shall be kept on a leash or otherwise confined in a manner acceptable to the Board whenever outside the dwelling. All animals shall be registered, licensed and inoculated as required by law. All animals kept with the Properties shall be maintained in a manner consistent with the City of Charleston and other applicable governmental ordinances.
The City of Charleston Ordinances State:
Sec. 5-4. – Animals at large prohibited
(a) No person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal shall cause, permit or allow the animal to stray or in any manner to run at large in or upon any public street, sidewalk, athletic field, athletic facility, or park or upon the property of another, if such animal is not under a physical restraint or a leash so as to allow the animal to be controlled. The length of a leash shall not be more than (16) sixteen feet long.
(b) Animals may be permitted to occupy a city park or an area of a city park under sufficient strict voice control without physical restraint or a leash when the director of the department of parks determines that during certain hours or under certain conditions animals may be permitted to occupy a city park or an area of a city park under strict voice control and posts the city park accordingly.
(c) No animal of any kind shall be permitted on any tennis court, fenced recreation field, or athletic field at any time, even if such animal is physically restrained, leashed or otherwise controlled.
(d) When any animal destroys or damages any property, attacks, threatens to attack, or interferes with any person in any manner, becomes a nuisance, or strays onto the private property of another, there shall be a presumption of law that the animal was not-under a physical restraint or a leash
(Code 1975, § 5-7; Ord. No. 1976-29, § 1, 9-14-76; Ord. No. 2002-76, § 1, 5-28-02; Ord. No. 2009-01, § 1, 2-13-09)
Sec. 5-5. – Restraint of animals
Every person owning or having possession, charge, care, custody, or control of any animal shall keep such animal exclusively upon his own premises; provided, however, that, any such animal may be off such premises if the animal is restrained by a chain or leash or other means of adequate physical control, provided, however, that, when any animal destroys or damages any property, attacks, threatens to attack, or interferes with any person in any manner, becomes a nuisance, or strays onto the private property of another, there shall be a presumption of law that the animal was not restrained by a chain or leash or other means of adequate physical control. Any animal not in an enclosed or fenced area, except as otherwise provided in section 5-4, must be leashed at all times.
(Code 1975, § 5-8; Ord. No. 1976-29, § 1, 9-14-76; Ord. No. 2009-01, § 2, 2-13-09)
