North Charleston, SC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Filing fee
- $30, non-refundable
- Fee scale
- $15 + $5 per $1,000 to $50,000
- Working without a permit
- Triple the normal permit fee
- Re-inspection fee
- $50, non-refundable
Summary
Reroofing in North Charleston is billed under the same valuation-based fee table that covers building, fence, pool, and solar work, and skipping the permit triples every fee once the city catches it.
BUILDING/FENCES/DEMOLITION/SITE CLEARING/ACCESSORY STRUCTURES/COMMUNICATION STRUCTURES/SOLAR PANELS/GRADING/POOLS/ROOFING/ETC. Application filing fee $1,000.00 or less $30.00 (non-refundable) $1,001.00 to $50,000.00 Application filing fee plus $15.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.00 $50,001.00 to $100.000.00 Application filing fee plus $260.00 for the first $50,000.00 plus $4.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000.00 $100,001.00 to $500,000.00 Application filing fee plus $460.00 for the first $100,000.00 plus $3.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000.00 $500,001.00 and up Application filing fee plus $1660.00 for the first $500,000.00 plus $2.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof Development permit $30.00 application filing fee Plan review checking fees Shall be equal to ½ of the permit fee
Temporary structures (tent)/firework stands $100.00 Annual industrial permit (Westvaco) $1,000.00 Temp. office trailer $40.00 Re-inspection fee $50.00 (non-refundable)
Working without permits Penalty for this violation shall be triple fee of all permit fees.
Site work shall also be subject to the schedule above.
(Ord. No. 2019-008, Att., 2-14-2019)
ELECTRICAL/SOLAR PANELS PERMITS Application filing fee $30.00 (non-refundable) New or upgrade services $0.25 per amp
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-310 requires anyone doing work governed by an adopted building code, including reroofing, to apply for a permit and pay a fee calculated from the cost of materials and labor. The Chapter 5 fee schedule folds roofing into the same valuation table as building, fence, pool, and solar work: a $30 non-refundable filing fee, plus $15 for the first $1,000 of value and $5 per additional thousand up to $50,000, with lower marginal rates above that. Re-inspections cost $50, and every sub-contractor or contractor must file separately.
Violations & Fines
Doing roofing work without a permit is a misdemeanor under Sec. 5-16, and the city adds a civil penalty of triple the normal permit fee on top of the fee still owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to reroof my house in North Charleston?
How much does a roofing permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Charleston
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Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Charleston County handle building permits.