UPDATE: April 22, 2020:
On April 20th, Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive Order reopening certain classes of retail businesses.
Following the Governor’s order, Charleston City Council passed an emergency ordinance on decreasing the risk of exposure to COVID- 19 in retail businesses.
The ordinance imposes a rigorous set of health and safety requirements on all retail businesses that are open to the general public during the COVID-19 state of emergency, including strict occupancy limits, social distancing policies, employee monitoring and protection, deep cleaning protocols, appropriate use of masks and gloves, and more.
April 6, 2020
Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive Order that went into effect at 5 p.m., Monday, April 6, 2020 closing non-essential businesses. The South Carolina Department of Commerce defines non-essential businesses on their website, here: https://www.sccommerce.com/covid-19-non-essential-business-guidelines.
Businesses seeking clarification as to whether or not they are essential can fill out the SC Commerce’s form, here: https://www.sccommerce.com/clarification-business-designation-form.