Persons engaged in any business, occupation or profession within the limits of the City of Camden are required to obtain a Camden Business License. Business Licenses are valid from May 1 to April 30 and must be renewed each year. Download the current renewal application here.
Food establishments, including mobile food vendors, are required to collect and remit a 2% Hospitality Tax as well, using this form.
Recently, the City Council approved an amendment to the ordinance identifying classifications for businesses inside city limits, in compliance with the 2021 SC Business License Tax Standardization Act. For a more in depth understanding of the standardized business license tax act and other business license resources, please visit the Municipal Association’s website.
Accommodations Tax Grants provide financial support to nonprofits in Camden and Kershaw County, to fund tourism and tourism-related projects and events. These events should promote or contribute to overnight accommodations or hotel stays in Camden.
Applications for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Accommodations Tax Grant process are now available. Applications are due by 5:00 pm Friday, April 26, 2024.
Download the FY24-25 Accommodations Tax Grant Application:
The City of Camden has recently updated its ordinance regarding the collection of garbage and refuse from residents inside city limits.
The most significant change is in the collection of trash, formerly referred to as yard debris. All refuse that cannot otherwise be classified as household garbage is considered trash. It may include grass clippings, leaves, shrub, tree parts smaller than 4”caliper and less than 5’ feet long and similar types of yard and other natural debris.
Effective immediately, it is unlawful for households and/or their employees, agents or contractors to place more than 8 cubic yards (see image above) of trash for collection by the city. If it becomes necessary for the city to remove and properly dispose of trash in excess of 8 cubic yards, the property owner and/or occupant shall be charged 4 times the monthly sanitation fee per occurrence, pursuant to a schedule of rates adopted and approved by City Council, and will be billed to the residential utility bill in the next utility billing cycle. It is unlawful to intermingle boxes, empty containers, scrap wood, metal, fabrics, furniture, appliances, electronics, and other types of waste with trash.
Additionally, effective immediately, bulk waste and white goods up to 3 cubic yards in size may be collected from any residence a maximum of one time per month. Residents must schedule this collection by calling the city’s sanitation department. Residents shall be charged 4 times the monthly sanitation fee per collection, pursuant to a schedule of rates adopted and approved by City Council, and will be billed to the residential utility account in the following billing cycle.
See the complete ordinance pertaining to garbage, refuse and other matters related thereto, or download our Residential Sanitation Services brochure for information on collection of household garbage, recyclable materials and other items. Please help us keep our city clean. Any questions or requests may be directed to our Sanitation Dept. at 803-425-6045.
The City of Camden Planning Commission will have their next meeting on March 19, 2024 at 6:15 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street. One item on the agenda is to conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed annexation and development on the Camden Training Center property. Please see below documents related to the proposed annexation and development.
On October 24, 2023, Camden City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2023-27 implementing development impact fees on new construction permits within the City of Camden. Beginning October 25, 2023, the City began collecting impact fees for the following categories:
• Fire Protection • Municipal Facilities and Equipment • Parks and Recreation (only charged for residential projects)
Development impact fees are one-time fees that are be collected at the time a building permit is issued. Impact fees are determined for each project based on a formula contained within the impact fee ordinance. The basis for each fee calculation includes: the number of proposed units; persons per household (residential) or employee space ratio (commercial); the replacement cost for each fee category; and any discount rate adopted by City Council. As of October 24, 2023, those discount rates are 20% for Parks & Recreation, 20% for Fire Protection, and 20% for Municipal Facilities & Equipment.
Consistent with state law, the impact fee ordinance authorizes exemptions for the following types of construction projects: rebuilding, remodeling, repairing or replacing an existing structure (provided there is no increase in the number of service units); residential additions; construction trailers and temporary offices; neighborhood amenities (playgrounds, tennis courts, clubhouses, etc.), volunteer fire stations, elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, and affordable housing units which meet minimum eligibility requirements.
Impact fees are based upon generally accepted industry criteria, including Census Bureau and ITE data. In instances where an applicant contends that the assumptions included within the impact fee ordinance are not accurate for the intended use, the ordinance allows an applicant to perform an independent fee calculation (at the applicant’s expense). The ordinance also authorizes credit agreements for approved monetary or in-kind contributions.
