Darlington County, SC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Sec. 8-77 of the county code makes it unlawful to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, structure or service system, or to install electrical, gas or plumbing equipment regulated by chapter 8, without first obtaining a separate permit from the building codes enforcement officer for each building, structure, system or installation. The only built-in exemption covers agricultural storage structure construction or repair costing $5,000.00 or less that needs no inspection under the adopted codes. Sec. 8-78 requires the application on the officer's form with any requested specifications, drawings, computations or diagrams bearing the preparer's signature, and the officer must act on a completed application without unreasonable delay, denying in writing on request any application describing noncompliant work.

Sec. 8-79 lets the officer revoke a permit issued on a false statement or misrepresentation, or when a construction contract tied to the permit is voided, with no refund of the fee paid. Sec. 8-80 requires the permit card to be posted in a conspicuous place at the site, within 50 feet of the public right-of-way, before work begins, and Sec. 8-81 blocks new permits to anyone who has not corrected defects on an existing permit after written notice. Fees run under the Appendix A schedule from $80.00 for work valued up to $2,000.00, through graduated tiers, to $18,327.00 plus $2.00 per additional thousand for projects over $5,000,000.00, plus a flat $20.00 administrative fee.

Sec. 8-84 doubles the fee for anyone who fails to obtain the permit before starting work, and Sec. 8-85 makes violating the adopted codes a misdemeanor under S.C. Code 1976 § 6-9-80, with ignored correction notices or stop-work orders drawing a uniform ordinance summons. Sec. 8-86 exempts temporary storm-damage repairs lasting 30 days or less.