Dorchester County, SC Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Section 6-21(a) adopts by reference, 'as fully as if they were copied herein in their entirety,' a list of nationally recognized construction codes that includes the International Electrical Code and, separately, the ICC Electrical Code Administrative Provisions, along with the qualification, duty and administrative-procedure provisions for building officials found in chapter one of each code. C. Code § 6-9-60, so the electrical code in force updates annually rather than staying frozen at one edition. Section 6-27 adds a blunt permit rule specific to electrical work: 'No new electrical connections shall be made in the county without first obtaining a mobile home or building permit,' a standalone requirement separate from the general building-permit fee structure in § 6-1.

Section 6-23 then layers county-specific electrical safety amendments onto the adopted code: any service-entrance cable penetrating an exterior wall needs an outside fused disconnect if the service exceeds 200 amps, or in most other cases unless the meter can and main disconnect are mounted back to back; a service upgrade, or any structure whose power has been off more than three months, must meet minimum GFCI, smoke-detection and mechanical-equipment-disconnect requirements before reconnection; and the smallest circuit allowed in a dwelling is 20 amps wired with a minimum number 12 AWG conductor.

Violations of this article, including unpermitted electrical connections, are misdemeanors under § 6-25, carrying a fine of up to $200 or 30 days in jail per offense.