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

Greenwood County has adopted the International Building Code, latest edition, including Appendix H, and the International Residential Code, latest edition, for construction in the unincorporated county, under Greenwood County Code § 6-1-1(a)(1) and (a)(10). Any building, structure or alteration that requires a building permit under those adopted codes must have its permit fee paid at the time the application is filed, using the official fee schedule kept in the county offices, per § 6-1-2(a). The city and county building official is the administrative and enforcement official for every technical code the county has adopted, per § 6-1-1(d), and the board of planning and zoning appeals sits as the board of adjustments and appeals for disputes arising under those codes, per § 6-1-1(e).

Churches and houses of worship, public schools and public hospitals do not pay permit fees under § 6-1-2(b), but they are still subject to the adopted building code itself. Violating any provision of the adopted building code, including building without the required permit, is punishable under § 6-1-1(f) by a fine up to $200.00 or imprisonment up to 30 days, with each day of the violation treated as a separate offense. Because the county enforces both the International Building Code and the International Residential Code depending on occupancy type, a homeowner adding a room, garage or accessory structure and a commercial developer both file through the same building official and the same fee schedule before work starts.