Building Safety in Florence County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Florence County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Florence County doesn't mandate new residential sprinkler retrofits outside the adopted building code, but once a structure has fire detection or suppression equipment, Sec. 21-149 of the Unsafe Structure Abatement Code requires the owner keep it operable to the fire code standard in effect when the structure was built.
Fire Protection System Rules in Florence County
Some RestrictionsFlorence County Code § 21-149
Sec. 21-149. - Fire protection systems. The provisions of this section shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for fire safety relating to structures, including fire safety facilities and equipment to be provided. General. All systems, devices and equipment to detect fire and/or smoke, actuate an alarm, or suppress or control a fire or any combination thereof shall be maintained in an...
Building Permits
Florence County does not print its own permit-trigger rule; instead Code § 7-11 adopts the 2021 South Carolina Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, and Existing Building Codes' Chapter 1, Scope and Administration, for permit administration, along with the 2009 IECC and 2020 National Electric Code, both administered by county Building Inspection.
Florence County Building Permit Code Adoption
Some RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 7-11, 7-24
Administration of the International Building Code® and the National Electrical Code® shall be as set forth in the following referenced standards: The 2021 South Carolina Building Code®, Chapter 1, Scope and Administration The 2021 South Carolina Residential Code®, Chapter 1, Scope and Administration The 2021 South Carolina Plumbing Code®, Chapter 1, Scope and Administration The 2021 South Carol...
Electrical Permits
Unincorporated Florence County requires an electrical permit before any wiring, service or fixture installation begins, administered under the 2020 National Electrical Code, Article 90, adopted by Florence County Code § 7-11. Section 7-21 sets a detailed fee schedule, from $10.00 to issue a permanent service permit up to 400 amps to $25.00 for a pole sign five feet or taller, and adds a $25.00 reinspection fee and doubled fees for unpermitted work.
Electrical Permits in Unincorporated Florence County
Some RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 7-11, 7-21, 7-22, 7-23
Administration of the International Building Code® and the National Electrical Code® shall be as set forth in the following referenced standards: ... The 202 ... 0 National Electric Code®, Article 90, Introduction ... The permit schedule for the installation of electrical equipment or work performed shall be as follows: (1)Service conductors and equipment: For each service, including service co...
Plumbing Permits
Unincorporated Florence County requires a plumbing permit before any plumbing installation begins, administered under the 2021 South Carolina Plumbing Code, Chapter 1, Scope and Administration, adopted by Florence County Code § 7-11. The county's published fee schedule for mobile home installations lists a $20.00 plumbing permit alongside the mobile home, electrical and mechanical permits, issued through the county Building Inspection Division rather than the City of Florence's separate code.
Plumbing Permits in Unincorporated Florence County
Some RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 1-13, 7-11, 7-24
Whenever in this Code or in any ordinance of the county an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor ... and no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision or the failure to perform any such act shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding $200.00 or by imprisonment not to exceed 30 days or both such fine and imprisonme...
All Florence County ordinances
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