Yard debris and tree limb pickup rules in Charleston, SC

Across the Charleston area, the rule of thumb is the same: leaves and grass go in paper yard bags, never plastic, and limbs are cut to 4 feet and stacked at the curb apart from other trash. The diameter limit is what changes most, from 4 inches in Charleston, Goose Creek and Hanahan to 6 inches in North Charleston and Summerville and 8 inches in Mount Pleasant. Stumps and contractor debris are left behind almost everywhere.

Limb and bag rules by town

Where you live	Leaves and clippings	Limbs
City of Charleston	Brown paper bags; loose piles not collected	4 ft long, 4 in across, stacked at the curb
North Charleston	Paper bags only; no plastic	4 ft long, 6 in across, in a separate pile
Mount Pleasant	Brown paper yard bags only	4 ft or shorter, 8 in across at most; no stumps
James Island PSD	Paper bags; piles up to 5 cubic yards (about 25 bags)	Length differs between the PSD's own documents; call 843-762-5260
Isle of Palms	Paper bags or containers; no plastic	4 ft long, 4 in across
Sullivan's Island	Paper bags, Wednesdays; piles under 5 cubic feet	Under 4 ft long and 4 in across
Kiawah Island	Paper bags, Thursdays	Under 4 ft long, 4 in across at most
Summerville	Open piles or recyclable paper bags, weekly	4 ft long, 6 in across; no large trunks or stumps
Goose Creek	Paper yard bags or a brown City debris cart	4 ft long, 4 in across, 50 lb, dirt off the roots
Hanahan	City containers, 32-gallon lidded cans or paper bags	4 ft long, 4 in across; 3 cubic yards per pickup
Moncks Corner	Town brown-lid yard cart	4 ft long, 4 in across, 50 lb, dirt off

Folly Beach collects yard debris on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but doesn't list size limits, so ask Public Works (City Hall, 843-588-2447) before a big cleanup.

Pro tip in Summerville, yard debris in plastic bins, cans or roll carts is not emptied, and a pile with lumber, tile, bricks or plastic in it is left at the curb. Keep the pile to branches and paper bags only.

What gets left at the curb

The same few things trip people up in almost every town:

Plastic bags. North Charleston says plainly that plastic bags are not collected, and the other towns ask for paper bags or containers.
Mixed piles. Most towns want yard debris kept apart from furniture, appliances and household trash.
Stumps and big trunks. Mount Pleasant and Summerville don't take them, and North Charleston lists large stumps and logs among items it won't collect.
Contractor debris. The City of Charleston requires landscapers and tree services to haul away their own debris under city ordinance. Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Kiawah, Goose Creek, Hanahan and Moncks Corner also exclude debris from contractors or lawn services.
Whole trees. Hanahan requires a Building and Codes permit to remove a whole tree, and the owner must dispose of all of it. The James Island PSD asks you to call before removing trees or setting large stumps at the curb.

Timing matters too. The City of Charleston allows yard waste out no earlier than two days before pickup.

Big piles: call ahead

Some towns handle oversized piles separately. Moncks Corner asks you to call 843-719-7947 by 3 PM Tuesday for a large pile that week. The James Island PSD caps piles at about 5 cubic yards, and Hanahan at 3 cubic yards per collection.

Drop it off yourself

Each county takes yard debris at some of its drop-off sites:

Charleston County: full-service convenience centers take yard debris free for residents with a photo ID showing a county address. Bag leaves in paper, not plastic, and leave out loose dirt or mulch. Limbs must be under 72 inches long and 24 inches across. The Signal Point Road center doesn't take yard waste. Charleston County centers.
Berkeley County: all convenience centers take yard debris, and residents pay no fee for it. Berkeley County centers.
Dorchester County: leaves, shrubs and limbs go to the Miles Jamison and Sandy Pines sites only, limbs 4 feet or shorter, no stumps and no contractor debris. Oversize debris can go to the Carolina Waste landfill at 355 Harrison Rd in Dorchester for a fee. Dorchester County sites.

After a storm

Storm cleanup usually runs under separate rules that towns post after the storm. On James Island, the Town and the James Island PSD have said they both use Charleston County's debris-removal contract for hurricane debris. For any other town, check its website or call public works after a storm before you build a pile.

When to hire it out

Curbside pickup is free, but it only takes what fits the rules. A fallen tree, a pile of stumps, a yard cleanup mixed with old fencing and junk, or more than your town's pile limit usually means a trip to the landfill or a hauling crew.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put yard waste in plastic bags in Charleston?

No. The City of Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, the James Island PSD, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Kiawah, Summerville and Goose Creek all ask for paper bags or a container, and North Charleston says plastic bags are not collected. Charleston County's convenience centers also take paper bags only.

How long can tree limbs be for curbside pickup?

Four feet in most towns. The diameter limit varies, from 4 inches (City of Charleston, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Kiawah, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Moncks Corner) to 6 inches (North Charleston, Summerville) and 8 inches (Mount Pleasant). The James Island PSD's own documents disagree on length, so call it at 843-762-5260.

Will the town pick up yard debris my landscaper cut?

Usually not. The City of Charleston requires landscapers and tree services to haul away their own debris, and Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Kiawah, Goose Creek, Hanahan and Moncks Corner also exclude contractor or lawn-service debris.

Where can I drop off tree limbs in Charleston County?

At the county's full-service convenience centers, free for residents with a photo ID showing a county address. Leaves go in paper bags, and limbs must be under 72 inches long and 24 inches across. The Signal Point Road center doesn't take yard waste.

Do towns pick up tree stumps?

Mount Pleasant and Summerville say they don't collect stumps or large trunks, and North Charleston lists large stumps and logs among items it won't take. Hanahan requires a permit to remove a whole tree and leaves disposal of it to the owner.

Bottom line

Cut limbs to 4 feet, check your town's diameter limit, bag leaves in paper, and keep the pile apart from everything else. Stumps, whole trees and anything a contractor cut need another route: your county's drop-off rules, a landfill, or a hauler.

How do we know this?

We check every rule, address and hour on this page against the official source, and re-check on a schedule. Spot something out of date? Tell us.