Council Advances Changes to Protest Permit Rules
Charleston City Council passed first reading of amendments to its First Amendment Demonstration Ordinance, as activist groups continue to call for full repeal.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Should your city require permits for protests drawing more than 25 people?
Charleston City Council passed first reading of amendments to the First Amendment Demonstration Ordinance at its Nov. 10 meeting. The changes add a quicker appeals process for denied permits and a content-neutral waiver process for demonstrations requiring a special events permit.
Why it matters
The ordinance requires permits for gatherings of more than 25 people and gives the police chief authority to deny permit requests. A coalition of local activist groups argues the rules are unconstitutional and has called for complete repeal, a position the amendments do not adopt.
The permit threshold is more than 25 people, and large-event applications must be filed at least three days in advance. The amendments still require two more council votes before final approval.
The players
Charleston City Council
The elected legislative body of Charleston, which sets city ordinances and votes on the proposed amendments.
William Cogswell
A public official whose role in the proposed changes is described in the source reporting.
The details
The proposed amendments add an introduction acknowledging residents' constitutional right to gather and protest peacefully, and they set a quicker appeals path that would send a denied permit to the Public Safety Committee at its next meeting, or sooner if the event is scheduled earlier. The ordinance was enacted July 29, 2021, days after three protestors were arrested following an unpermitted gathering of nearly 50 people at Marion Square.
Timeline
July 29, 2021: The First Amendment Demonstration Ordinance took effect.
Nov. 10, 2026: Council passed first reading of the proposed amendments.
Nov. 17, 2026: Council meets again on the amendments.
Legal Context
The amendments revise the July 2021 First Amendment Demonstration Ordinance, which was adopted days after the Marion Square arrests, by keeping its permit requirement while adding a faster appeals process and a content-neutral waiver.
Residents planning a demonstration of more than 25 people will still need a permit, but the amendments would give them a faster path to appeal a denial. Groups planning large events should note the three-day advance application requirement remains in effect.
The takeaway
Changes to local protest rules move through several council votes, so residents who want to weigh in have a window before final approval. Watching the Nov. 17 meeting shows how the appeals and waiver provisions are shaped.
What happens next
City Council meets again on Nov. 17, 2026 to take up the amendments, which still require two further votes before final approval.
Further reading
Explore more local coverage in Civic Engagement for background on how residents participate in city decisions.
Live Poll
Should your city require permits for protests drawing more than 25 people?
