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1. When is a permit required?

The most common types of projects that require permits are: 

• New houses or buildings
• Room additions or expansions
• Structural repairs, remodeling, or alterations
• Accessory structures such as sheds, gazebos, decks, patio slabs, etc.
• Carports and detached garages
• Replacement of heating and air conditioning equipment
• Re-piping of water lines, replacement of sewer lines, or replacement of water heaters
• Modifications to electrical service or wiring
• Installing gas lines
• Re-roofing, new siding, or replacement windows

This list is not all inclusive. Please call the Building & Codes Department at  803-547-2034 for additional information.

2. What types of permits are required?

Building Permits

• Building or repair of structures
• Building of detached structures
• Garages and carports
• Storage buildings
• Fences (most require approval only by Planning Department)
• Signs
• Construction trailers
• Swimming pools
• Roofing

Electrical Permits

• Commercial security and alarm systems if not associated with new construction
• Electrical service changes or replacement
• Low voltage
• Re-wiring

Plumbing

• Water systems
• Sewer systems
• Irrigation systems
• Cross connection control
• Fire sprinkler
• Water heater replacement

Mechanical

• Air conditioning equipment
• Heating equipment
• Boilers
• Chimneys and vents
• Combustion and ventilation air
• Exhaust systems
• Ventilation systems

3. What are the necessary requirements to do work in the town fort mill?

All workers of all types must have a Town of Fort Mill business license.  For more information, please email our business license staff.

General Construction

For residential work exceeding $200 but less than $5,000, one of the following State of South Carolina certifications is required in addition to the Town of Fort Mill business license:

• Registered Residential Specialty Contractor
• Residential Contractor License
• General Contractor License

For residential work over $5,000, one of the following is required in addition to the Town of Fort Mill business license:

• South Carolina Residential Contractors License
• South Carolina General Contractors License
• Residential Specialty Registration

Commercial work over $5,000 requires a South Carolina General Contractors License in addition to the Town of Fort Mill business license.

Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, & Gas Installation

For work up to $5,000, one of the following is required in addition to the Town of Fort Mill business license:

• A certification card issued by the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC)
• A South Carolina Mechanical Contractors License

For work over $5,000, a South Carolina Mechanical Contractors License is required in addition to the Town of Fort Mill business license.

4. Can a homeowner obtain permits?

Homeowners may obtain permits to do work on their own residence except mechanical and gas installations. For the homeowner to do electrical work (maintenance only, not new construction) on their residence (totaling less than $250), an electrical permit must be issued. For work totaling more than $250, the homeowner must contract with a State of South Carolina licensed electrician.

5. Who is a contractor?

Any individual doing work on someone else’s property is considered a contractor and shall meet the licensing and permitting requirements.

6. When are building inspections required?

The list below is a list of residential inspections performed in the Town of Fort Mill.  Please Note:  This list may not be all inclusive.  For questions, please contact our Building & Codes Department at 803-547-2034.

FOOTING INSPECTION: The Town of Fort Mill inspectors will verify that all Footings are Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Plans. A 3rd Party Inspection Approval Letter for house footings shall be on-site at the time for all footing Inspection in the Town of Fort Mill.

PLUMBING UNDER SLAB INSPECTION: The Town of Fort Mill Inspectors will verify that the Under-Slab Plumbing is Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents. This inspection will verify if Backwater Valve will be required and/or installed. (This inspection will also Check for Under-Slab Electrical Conduit for Island etc…)

WATER/SEWER INSPECTION: The Town of Fort Mill Inspectors Verify that the Water & Sewer Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents. This inspection will verify if Backwater Valve will be required and/or installed.

SLAB/MONO SLAB INSPECTION: The Town of Fort Mill Inspectors will verify that the Slab is Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents.  If this is a Mono Slab, all parts of the slab will be required to be pour at the same time, unless the plans call-out for the Mono Slab to be poured in phases.

OPEN FLOOR INSPECTION: The Open Floor Inspection Will Verify that All Joist, Girders, Bands, Foundation Ties, etc… are Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents before installing floor sheathing.

FOUNDATION WALL INSPECTION (MASONRY/CONCRETE): This Inspection will verify that Foundation Walls (Foundation Ties, Piers, Wall Rebar, etc…) are Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents.

WATERPROOFING INSPECTION (BASEMENT ONLY): The Town of Fort Mill Inspectors will only inspect Waterproofing if it is required by the Currently Adopted Code.

FRAMING ALL ROUGH INSPECTION (ALL TRADE ROUGH-IN INSPECTIONS DONE AT ONE TIME):

The Town of Fort Mill inspectors will verify that Framing All Roughs are Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents. This is not a punch list inspection. Your project should be complete and ready for inspection prior to scheduling this inspection. All truss layouts paperwork engineered lumber reports, etc… shall be on-site for this inspection.

EXTERIOR SHEATHING INSPECTION: This inspection will consist of a Sheathing Fastening Inspection prior to installing house wrap to assure Code Compliance and installation per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents. 

HOUSE WRAP INSPECTION: This inspection is to ensure Code Compliant infiltration barriers have been provided and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents prior to Installing Exterior Siding, Brick, Stucco, etc…

GAS PIPING INSPECTION: The Town of Fort Mill inspectors will verify that the Gas Piping is Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents and is tested and maintains a minimum pressure of #30 lbs. in the Town of Fort Mill for inspection.

SHOWER PAN INSPECTION: This Inspection will verify that the Shower Pan is holding water and not leaking prior to Installing the floor tile in a tile shower.

INSULATION INSPECTION: This Inspection will verify that all insulation that will be concealed in inaccessible spaces will be Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents prior to concealing.

 DUCT LEAKAGE TEST INSPECTION: This is a duct leakage test commonly referred to as “Duct Blaster Test” that measures the minimum air leakage allowed in the duct system to be Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents.

 PERMANENT POWER INSPECTION: This is an electrical inspection that is performed after all fixtures and devices are installed prior to installing the electrical service meter to ensure that the electrical system will be Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents. All services (Electrical, Gas & Water meters) must be connected prior to scheduling a Final Inspection.

BUILDING THERMAL ENVELOPE LEAKAGE TEST (Optional): This test is commonly referred to as a “Blower Door Test”. This inspection is performed by a licensed 3^rd Party Inspector and the inspection will test for the maximum air leakage allowed to be Code Compliant.

RESIDENTIAL FINAL INSPECTION: A residential Final Inspection is to be performed when the project is completed and ready for occupancy. All service must be connected and operational to be able to complete this inspection. If EIFS is used as the exterior finish material, a 3rd Party Inspection Approval Letter shall be on-site at the time of this inspection. All landscaping must be in place and the lot must be stabilized with seed or sod. See the companion Town of Fort Mill Roofing Requirements document for special requirements related to the final roof inspection process.

BACKFLOW PREVENTER INSPECTION: This inspection is for all backflow devices installed to protect all potable water system in reference to irrigations system to show that the system is Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents.

DECK ROUGH INSPECTION: This inspection is to check to see if all connections points are Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents. For deck footing please see Footing Inspection.

DECK FINAL INSPECTION: This inspection is to be performed after the deck construction has been completed and to verify the deck is Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents.

POOL BONDING INSPECTION: These inspections are made in reference to swimming pool construction to show that the bonding connections are Code Compliant and installed per Approved Stamped Construction Documents.

POOL FINAL INSPECTION: This inspection is to allow for the inspector to verify that all pool construction is Code Compliant and installed per the Approved Stamped Construction Documents after completion of the pool. All fences, gates, latches, alarms installed, and the pool shall be full of water prior to this inspection.

7. What is the process for obtaining a permit?

Learn about obtaining a permit for building or demolition.

8. Who should I contact?

If you need to request an Inspection, please email the request to inspections@fortmillsc.gov or use our online inspection request form.  Please be sure to include the lot number, address, permit number, type of inspection needed, contractor, and a contact name and telephone number with your request.  Please note that inspection results will not be given over the phone.

For general information regarding Building & Codes, permitting, or business licensing, please call 803-547-2034.

Please note that the Town of Fort Mill does not issue any state licenses, only Town of Fort Mill business licenses.