Contact Information:
Mailing Address & Office Location:
2120 East Main Street
Dorchester, South Carolina 29437
Contact Numbers:
St George:
843-563-0070 office
843-563-0064 fax
Summerville:
843-832-0070 office
843-832-0064 fax
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Road Maintenance & Repair
Dorchester County Public Works and the Transportation Department maintain and repair roads which have been accepted into the Dorchester County road maintenance system. Not all roads maintained by Dorchester County have right-of-ways. Some roads within Dorchester County have a prescriptive easement which means that Dorchester County claims only what is maintained. This is common on older roads, dirt roads and paved roads in the rural area of Dorchester County. Unpaved roads are graded on a continuing basis with rocking, culvert repairs, roadside vegetation control and stabilization performed as needed.
Drainage Maintenance & Repair 
Dorchester County Public Works and the Stormwater Department maintain and repair drainage systems that have been accepted into the Dorchester County road maintenance system and those Waters of the State (WoS). This can include major channels in the rural areas and a limited number of piped or open ditches in subdivisions and municipalities.
Request for Service
Requests for service should be directed to Dorchester County Public Works and the Transportation Department. Work orders may be placed by calling during regular office hours, which are noted above. Work orders are prepared and issued to the Deputy Director for inspection and evaluation to determine the need and extent of the work being requested. Workloads and resources are reviewed and prioritized to create a flowing work schedule.
Encroachment Permits
Encroachments within Dorchester County maintained roads, right-of-ways and/or easements require an encroachment permit prior to begin work. This includes, but is not limited to, driveways, utility lines, fences and landscaping. Storage sheds, structures, utility buildings, and fences are not permitted to be placed within a County maintained road, right-of-way or easement, no matter if the building is temporary or not. Encroachment Permit applications can be obtained from the Dorchester County Public Works Department and the Transportation Office or downloaded here. Once completed, the permit can be mailed, emailed or faxed in for review.