Rock Hill, SC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

City Code § 10-71 puts the burden on the owner or authorized agent: before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or an occupancy change of any building or structure, or before electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system work regulated by the code, the applicant must first apply to the building official and obtain a permit. The division of building/codes, headed by a building official the city manager appoints under §§ 10-41 and 10-42, reviews the application, issues the permit and later inspects the work under § 10-52.

Section 10-74 exempts a defined list of minor jobs: one-story detached accessory structures like tool sheds and playhouses up to 200 square feet, fences no more than seven feet high, retaining walls no more than four feet from footing to top, water tanks on grade holding 5,000 gallons or less, sidewalks and driveways no more than 30 inches above grade, painting and similar finish work, and prefabricated above-ground swimming pools under 24 inches deep holding 5,000 gallons or less. Minor electrical repairs, portable heating and cooling equipment, and stopping a leak in a drain or vent pipe are also exempt, though replacing a defective concealed pipe counts as new work needing a permit.

Section 10-72 lets a business regularly employing licensed tradespeople get an annual permit instead of a separate permit for each alteration to an already-approved system.