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

Section 74-64 of the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances adopts a full set of technical codes, including the 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Building Code provisions incorporated by reference, the 2021 International Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes, the 2009 South Carolina Energy Conservation Code, the 2020 National Electrical Code, and the 2021 International Existing Building Code, "with effective dates established by the South Carolina Building Code Council," and it is "unlawful to erect or construct any building or structure in the county in violation of, or without complying with, these regulations." Section 74-62 limits this article to "the unincorporated areas of the county and those municipalities which make an agreement with the county council to be regulated by the terms of this article."

The Department of Building Inspections, created under § 74-67, administers and enforces the chapter through the building official, and § 74-96(b) requires that "no permit shall be issued until the fees prescribed in this division shall have been paid," with separate fee schedules in §§ 74-97 through 74-103 for building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, and safety inspections. A property owner who disputes the building official's decision, such as a permit denial or an interpretation of the code, can appeal to the seven-member Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals by filing written notice within 30 calendar days under §§ 74-28 through 74-30. This article governs only unincorporated Beaufort County; the City of Beaufort, Port Royal, Bluffton, and Hilton Head Island each administer their own building departments and permit codes.