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Columbia, SC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

General permit rule
Sec. 5-201
Unpermitted work penalty
100% added to fee
Residential plan review fee
$25
Reinspection fee
$30 first, $50 after
Express plan review
$400-$700 per hour

Summary

Sec. 5-201 of the Code of Ordinances bars anyone from engaging in "any part or facet of the building business" in Columbia without first obtaining the appropriate permit and paying the required fee. Fees scale with project value under Sec. 5-204, plan review and reinspection carry their own charges, and starting work early adds a 100 percent penalty.

Before any individual or business entity shall engage in any part or facet of the building business within the city, they shall have obtained an appropriate permit and paid the fees as set forth in this chapter.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).

Full Breakdown

Sec. " The fee schedule in Sec. 00 above that. 00 per hour for new construction, billed in 15-minute increments after the first hour. 00 for every one after. Renovation permits under Sec. 5-202 must carry a fixed completion date set by the building official, and anyone denied a deadline extension can appeal to the housing board of adjustment. Sec. 5-203 makes it a fraudulent act to let another person or firm use your name or license to pull a permit. Demolishing any building requires its own separate permit under Sec. 5-231, issued by the building official under Article IV of the same chapter.

Violations & Fines

Starting work before the permit issues adds a 100 percent penalty on top of the normal fee under Sec. 5-204(c). Failing to finish renovation work by the completion date fixed under Sec. 5-202 is unlawful. Obtaining a permit through fraud or letting someone else use your license violates Sec. 5-203. The building official administers enforcement and fee assessment for the chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers a building permit in Columbia?
Sec. 5-201 requires a permit before engaging in "any part or facet of the building business," which covers new construction, additions, renovations and alterations administered through the city's building official under Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances.
How much does a Columbia building permit cost?
Fees track project value: one- and two-family work is $20.00 up to $5,000.00 and $4.00 per $1,000.00 above that, while commercial work starts at $50.00 and climbs to $16,505.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 over $5,000,000.00, per the Sec. 5-204 fee schedule.
What happens if I start construction without a permit?
Sec. 5-204(c) adds a penalty equal to 100 percent of the usual permit fee whenever work requiring a permit is started or proceeded with before the permit is obtained, on top of the required fee itself.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Columbia

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsElectrical PermitsSome RestrictionsPlumbing PermitsSome RestrictionsGreen Building CodeSome RestrictionsChildcare Center RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: CompostingLight Restrictions

All Columbia rules

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