Building Safety in Georgetown County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Georgetown County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Building Permits
Georgetown County requires a building permit before any construction, remodeling, plumbing, electrical, mechanical or gas work, or land development begins in the unincorporated county. Sec. 7-10 exempts only minor home improvements like painting or window replacement. The building official reviews stamped plans, posts a permit card, and can fine violators up to $500 per day.
Georgetown County Building Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code §§ 7-10, 7-18
Sec. 7-10. - Permitting. (a)A building permit is required if the work involves any referenced code or any county ordinance. No construction, remodeling, plumbing, electrical, mechanical or gas work, nor swimming pool construction or land development shall begin without securing the required permit from the building official or authorized representative.(b)Projects that are simply home improveme...
Electrical Permits
Georgetown County has adopted the 2020 National Electric Code, with South Carolina modifications, as its electrical code. Sec. 7-12(d) makes it unlawful to connect any wiring, device or equipment to power without a construction power permit, certificate of occupancy, or certificate of compliance, and Sec. 7-3 relocates the required service disconnect outside the structure at ground level.
Georgetown County Electrical Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code §§ 7-1(1)(h), 7-3, 7-12(d)
h.The National Electric Code, 2020 Edition, with SC modifications. ... ... Sec. 7-3. - Text changes. National Electric Code, Section 230.70(a) change to read: The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location outside of a building or structure. ... ... Sec. 7-12. - Inspections. ... (d)It shall be unlawful for any person to connect or reconnect any installation ...
Plumbing Permits
Georgetown County enforces the 2021 International Plumbing Code, with South Carolina modifications, as its plumbing code. Sec. 7-10 requires a permit from the building official before any plumbing work begins in the unincorporated county, the same permit rule that covers construction, electrical, mechanical and gas work.
Georgetown County Plumbing Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code §§ 7-1(1)(b), 7-10
b.The International Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition, with SC modifications. ... ... Sec. 7-10. - Permitting. (a)A building permit is required if the work involves any referenced code or any county ordinance. No construction, remodeling, plumbing, electrical, mechanical or gas work, nor swimming pool construction or land development shall begin without securing the required permit from the building ...
Building Inspections
Georgetown County building inspectors check work at set stages listed on the permit card, and Sec. 7-12 spells out how the process runs in the unincorporated county. No inspection happens unless the permit card is posted and stamped plans are on-site, next-day requests must come in by 3:00 p.m. weekdays, and every inspection ends with a written pass-or-fail notice.
Georgetown County Building Inspection Rules
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code § 7-12(a)-(c)
(a)Inspections shall be made by authorized persons. They shall be routinely made at selected stages of construction, prescribed by written policy of the building department and listed on the permit cards. No inspection will be made unless the permit card is posted and an approved, stamped set of plans is on-site and available to the inspector. A one hundred dollar ($100.00) re-inspection fee mu...
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