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

Sec. 6-15(a) requires any owner, authorized agent, contractor, or other party who wants to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve or otherwise change a building or structure as defined by the codes referenced in Sec. 6-14, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, remove, convert or repair any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by those codes, to first make application to the building official and obtain an appropriate permit before doing the work. The only exception is for emergency repairs, defined by the referenced codes, which may commence immediately as long as a permit is obtained afterward.

Sec. 6-15(b) requires the issued permit to be kept at the job site and made available for inspection by the building official or another authorized department employee on demand. Sec. 6-16 bars the building official from issuing or amending a permit until the required fee, set by county council resolution, is paid; Sec. 00, with separate rates for demolition, mobile homes, reinspections and permit renewals. Sec. 6-17 requires notifying the building official if a permit holder quits construction before completion, and Sec. 6-18 doubles the required fee, on top of any other penalty, if work starts before a permit is obtained.

A person aggrieved by the building official's determination may appeal to the Buildings Regulations Board of Appeals under Sec. 6-19, following International Building Code appeal procedures.