Berkeley County, SC Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture fee
- $3.00 per fixture
- Water heater fee
- $5.00 each
- DWV system fee
- $15.00 new/repaired/altered
- Sewer connection fee
- $15.00 per connection
- Adopted code
- 2021 International Plumbing Code
- Max fine
- $200.00 under Sec. 1-8(c)
Summary
Berkeley County requires a plumbing permit under Berkeley County Code of Ordinances Sec. 11-88 for any fixture, water heater, drain-waste-vent system, water-piping work, or sewer connection in the unincorporated county. Fees are itemized per item rather than flat-rated, and the county enforces the 2021 International Plumbing Code it adopted by reference in Sec. 11-31, administered through the building and codes department.
The following fees shall be charged when provided: For each plumbing fixture, (including water and drainage) - $3.00 For each water heater and/or appurtenances - $5.00 For each drain, waste and vent system, new, repaired or altered - $15.00 For installation, alteration, or repair of water piping - $15.00 For each sewer to public, private, or individual sewage disposal system - $15.00
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 of the Berkeley County Code of Ordinances adopts, as mandated by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, the 2021 International Plumbing Code, including Chapter One, as an ordinance of the county for all unincorporated territory. Sec. 00 for each sewer connection to a public, private, or individual sewage disposal system. A multipermit may be issued for buildings needing several separate plumbing permits, such as apartment buildings, with administrative fees charged per unit. The chief building official may instead use the signed contract price of a job to set the fee if the itemized schedule undervalues the work.
Sec. 11-32 makes the county's designated building official the responsible official for enforcing the adopted plumbing code. Before any certificate of occupancy is issued, Sec. 11-61 requires the permitting department to have received water and sewer tap receipts and, where applicable, DHEC septic approval, plus verification that all fees are paid.
Violations & Fines
Plumbing work performed without the required permit, or in violation of the adopted International Plumbing Code, is enforced as a building-code violation under Sec. 1-8(c) of the county code, which caps fines for violations of adopted technical codes at $200.00 and imprisonment at 30 days, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. The chief building official may also order utility disconnection for unpermitted or hazardous work under Sec. 11-100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Berkeley County require a permit for plumbing repairs?
What plumbing code applies in unincorporated Berkeley County?
What happens if I finish plumbing work without a final inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley County
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