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Home Business Permitting Building Permits

Building Permits

A business license is required before we can issue a permit. Please visit our Business Licensing page and submit an application.

Permit Required

The State of South Carolina Building Code requires a permit for any work involving:

  • Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or change of occupancy of a building or structure. ​
  • Installation, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, conversion, or replacement of electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems regulated by the code. ​

Permit Exceptions

Permits are not required for the following projects:

  • One-story detached accessory structures with a floor area of 200 square feet or less. ​ (Application and approval required prior to construction)
  • Fences not exceeding 7 feet in height. ​ (Application and Zoning approval required prior to construction)
  • Retaining walls not exceeding 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), unless supporting a surcharge. ​ (Any back-filled wall requires a permit)
  • Water tanks directly supported on grade with a capacity of 5,000 gallons or less and a height-to-diameter ratio of 2:1 or less. ​
  • Sidewalks and driveways. ​ (Approval required prior to installation)
  • Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work. ​
  • Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep. ​
  • Swings and playground equipment. ​
  • Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches from the wall. ​
  • Decks not exceeding 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving a required exit door. ​ (Approval required prior to construction)

Permits are not required for:

  • Temporary decorative lighting (cord-and-plug connected). ​
  • Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles (not outlets). ​
  • Replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices in the same location. ​
  • Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and supplying 50 watts or less. ​
  • Minor repairs, such as replacing lamps or connecting approved portable electrical equipment to installed receptacles. ​

Permits are not required for:

  • Portable heating, cooking, or clothes drying appliances. ​
  • Replacement of minor parts that do not alter equipment approval or safety. ​
  • Portable fuel-cell appliances not connected to fixed piping systems or power grids. ​

Permits are not required for:

  • Portable heating, ventilation, or cooling appliances. ​
  • Steam, hot- or chilled-water piping within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the code. ​
  • Replacement of minor parts that do not alter equipment approval or safety. ​
  • Portable evaporative coolers. ​
  • Self-contained refrigeration systems with 10 pounds or less of refrigerant or motors of 1 horsepower or less. ​
  • Portable fuel-cell appliances not connected to fixed piping systems or power grids. ​

Permits are not required for:

  • Stopping leaks in drains, water, soil, waste, or vent pipes. ​ (If concealed pipes need replacement, a permit is required)
  • Clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures. ​ (Repairs requiring replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures require a permit)

For emergency equipment replacements or repairs, the permit application must be submitted within the next working business day to the building official. ​

Permits are not required for ordinary repairs, such as:

  • Replacement of lamps. ​
  • Connecting approved portable electrical equipment to installed receptacles. ​

Note: Ordinary repairs do not include:

  • Cutting away walls, partitions, or structural beams.
  • Removing or changing load-bearing supports.
  • Altering required means of egress.
  • Adding, altering, replacing, or relocating water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, soil, waste, vent piping, electric wiring, or mechanical systems. ​

For questions or comments, please contact:
Austin Lassiter, CBO ​ | Building Official, Town of Six Mile ​
austin.lassiter@blecorp.com | M: 864.907.7338 ​ | BLECORP.com
6004 Ponders Court ​ | Greenville, SC 29615 ​