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1. Can Town of James Island residents annex property into the City?

No. If a property is currently in the Town, the property cannot be annexed. If a property is in the City, it also cannot be annexed by the Town. However, many areas of the previous Town of James Island prior to 2011 are not included in the current Town boundaries. This means that some properties are located in unincorporated areas that are neither in the Town nor in the City. These properties are eligible to annex into the City of Charleston.

Not all former residents of the Town of James Island are eligible to join the City. To see if your property is eligible to annex into the City, email us to find out.

2. How does annexation work in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, residents are afforded the opportunity to specifically request as an individual (or group of neighbors) to incorporate their homes into the surrounding City. Many "donut holes" of unincorporated properties exist in James Island, West Ashley, Johns Island, and Cainhoy. The City reaches out to the homeowners of those areas to offer them the advantages of annexation. "Donut holes" are small areas within the City that are touching city limits but are still under the jurisdiction of Charleston County.