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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

NEC edition adopted
2020 Edition (§ 11-31)
Permit fee up to 200 amps
$45.00 flat (§ 11-86)
Fee over 200 amps
$45.00 + $0.15/amp above 200
Service-interruption inspection fee
$25.00 (§ 11-86)
Admin fee per permit
$25.00 (§ 11-69)
Penalty
up to $200 fine / 30 days jail (§ 11-103)

Summary

Berkeley County enforces the 2020 National Electrical Code by reference under Sec. 11-31 and charges a flat $45.00 electrical permit fee for service up to 200 amps under Sec. 11-86, plus $0.15 per amp above 200 and a $25.00 safety-inspection fee whenever service has been interrupted.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Berkeley County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

2020 Edition: National Electric Code ... Sec. 11-86. - Electrical permit fees. The fees for electrical permits up to 200 amps shall be $45.00. The fees for electrical permits over 200 amps shall be $45.00 and $0.15 for each additional amp above 200 amps. The fee for a safety inspection where electrical service has been interrupted shall be $25.00.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 11-31 adopts the National Electric Code, 2020 Edition, by reference alongside the 2021-edition International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, Fuel Gas, Existing Building, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, and states that amendments or subsequent editions become effective in the county on the effective date specified by the state. Sec. 15 for each additional amp above 200 amps. 00 fee for a safety inspection where electrical service has been interrupted, covering the common case of a home whose power was cut and needs re-energizing.

Like every other permit in chapter 11, an electrical permit cannot be pulled without the accompanying documents required by Sec. 11-61, and no electrical work covered by the adopted codes may commence until the permitting department issues the permit under Sec. 11-64, with fees doubling under Sec. 11-65 if the work starts first. 00 administrative fee under Sec. 11-69 applies on top of the amperage-based fee for every permit application. Responsibility for enforcing the adopted electrical code rests with the county official whose duties correspond to those named in the code itself, per Sec. 11-32, and disputes over the building official's application of the code go to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals under Sec. 11-34.

Violations & Fines

Performing electrical work without the required permit doubles the $45.00-plus fee under Sec. 11-65 and exposes the owner or contractor to the general chapter 11 misdemeanor penalty in Sec. 11-103: a fine up to $200.00 and/or up to 30 days in jail, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense. The chief building official can also suspend or revoke a wrongly issued permit under Sec. 11-66.

Frequently Asked Questions

What electrical code does Berkeley County actually enforce?
The 2020 Edition of the National Electrical Code, adopted by reference in Sec. 11-31 alongside the 2021-edition International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire Codes; later amendments apply once the State of South Carolina adopts them, not automatically on the national publication date.
How much is a basic electrical permit?
$45.00 flat for service up to 200 amps under Sec. 11-86, plus the standard $25.00 nonrefundable administrative fee under Sec. 11-69 and any applicable plan review fee; service over 200 amps adds $0.15 for every amp above the 200-amp threshold.
My power was shut off and I need it reconnected. Is there a fee?
Yes. Sec. 11-86 sets a separate $25.00 fee specifically for a safety inspection where electrical service has been interrupted, distinct from the amperage-based permit fee, and that inspection has to happen before service is restored.
What if an electrician starts work before pulling the permit?
Sec. 11-65 doubles every administrative and permit fee tied to that job, and Sec. 11-103 separately makes the underlying chapter 11 violation a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $200.00 fine and/or 30 days in jail, per day of continued noncompliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Berkeley County

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