About Us

As one of South Carolina's 10 Regional Planning Councils, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments' primary objectives are to assist local governments develop local and regional plans within the tri-county region, as well as providing local governments with planning and technical support to improve the quality of life in the region.

Local governments in Berkeley and Charleston counties first created a Regional Planning Commission in 1968 to encourage a regional approach to local dilemmas. Dorchester County governments elected to join the group three years later. The organization changed in 1976 to the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG).

The BCDCOG's by-laws call for a governing board of 57 members, all of whom are appointed by local governments within the three-county region. This board, led by an Executive Committee, sets policy and provides direction to the programs of the Council of Governments.

The BCDCOG accomplishes it's goals by providing it's member governments with technical assistance is a variety of fields, including

economic development
community development
comprehensive planning
statistical information gathering and analysis
regional transportation planning
regional water quality management

The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions.

BCDCOG serves a 3-county region of South Carolina. BCDCOG has 30 member governments. The COG's board of directors provides a forum for local leaders to find common goals and determine a course for the entire region.

For more about Council of Governments in South Carolina, visit the South Carolina Association of Regional Councils web site. For a complete list of Council of Governments in the U.S., visit the National Association of Regional Councils web site.

1362 McMillan Avenue, Suite 100 : Charleston, SC 29405 (843) 529-0400 (843) 529-0305 Fax

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