Town of Surfside Beach, SC - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within incorporated Surfside Beach town limits. Horry County handles unincorporated county areas outside municipal limits.

Department

Planning, Building & Zoning Department, Town of Surfside Beach

Address

210 Highway 17 S, Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Phone

843-913-6341

Email

MBrodeur@surfsidebeach.org , town@surfsidebeach.org

Website

https://www.surfsidebeach.org/184/Planning-Building-Zoning

Application Process

1. Start on the Planning, Building & Zoning page and pull the applicable permit form from the Building & Zoning Forms page.
2. Complete the form for the project type, such as building permit, new construction, addition, pool packet, zoning approval, sign permit, or tree removal.
3. Submit the application to the Planning, Building & Zoning Department / Permit Technician for review.
4. The Building Official, zoning staff, floodplain review, and other town reviewers process the application as needed.
5. Pay the applicable permit, zoning, and plan review fees under the adopted town fee schedule.
6. Obtain the permit, keep approved materials on site, and proceed through required inspections and any appeal process if needed.

Typical processing time: No public townwide review clock was identified on the reviewed pages.

Source: Planning, Building & Zoning Department, Town of Surfside Beach

General Requirements

Public forms show permits for new buildings or structures, additions, renovation and remodel, repair and replacement, move and demolition work, electrical, mechanical and gas, plumbing, pools, signs, encroachments, zoning approvals, tree removal, and other listed activities.

Required Documents

• Project-specific permit application
• Tax map number
• Zoning district and flood zone information
• Detailed scope of work
• Contractor state license and town business license
• Construction value
• Any required flood hazard addendum, site materials, or zoning approvals

Permit validity

Building permit application states all permits are non-transferable and non-refundable. No public permit-expiration interval was clearly identified on the reviewed current pages.

Building code

Town ordinance adopts the latest editions as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council, including building, residential, fire, plumbing, mechanical, energy, fuel gas, NEC, International Property Maintenance Code, and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.

Owner-builder

No separate current Surfside Beach owner-builder handout was identified on the reviewed pages.

Contractor requirements

Building permit application requires contractor state license number and town business license number.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not clearly isolated as a general minimum on the public FY25-26 fee schedule pages reviewed.

Plan check fee

Plan review fee equal to 50 percent of the building permit fee when plans are required. Published schedule also lists second review at $100 and third and subsequent reviews at $75.

Permit fee formula

New residential building permits at $0.59 per square foot. New commercial building permits at $0.54 per square foot. Many zoning and specialty permits are flat fee based.

Reinspection fee

$75 when extra inspections are needed because the work is not ready, violations remain uncorrected, or approved plans are not on site.

Payment note

Town fee schedule is consolidated in the FY25-26 comprehensive fee schedule. No separate public online permit-payment portal was identified.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Planning, Building & Zoning Department, Town of Surfside Beach to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 843-913-6341 (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, project-specific building and zoning inspections, and final signoff by the applicable town officials.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Town ordinance adopts the latest editions as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council, including building, residential, fire, plumbing, mechanical, energy, fuel gas, NEC, International Property Maintenance Code, and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Town Directory
• Ordinances
• Code of Ordinances
• License lookup guide: South Carolina Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: South Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• South Carolina hub: South Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Town of Surfside Beach Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Town of Surfside Beach, SC?

Public forms show permits for new buildings or structures, additions, renovation and remodel, repair and replacement, move and demolition work, electrical, mechanical and gas, plumbing, pools, signs, encroachments, zoning approvals, tree removal, and other listed activities.

How much does a building permit cost in Town of Surfside Beach, SC?

The minimum permit fee is Not clearly isolated as a general minimum on the public FY25-26 fee schedule pages reviewed.. Fees are calculated as: New residential building permits at $0.59 per square foot. New commercial building permits at $0.54 per square foot. Many zoning and specialty permits are flat fee based.. Plan check fee: Plan review fee equal to 50 percent of the building permit fee when plans are required. Published schedule also lists second review at $100 and third and subsequent reviews at $75..

How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Surfside Beach, SC?

1. Start on the Planning, Building & Zoning page and pull the applicable permit form from the Building & Zoning Forms page. 2. Complete the form for the project type, such as building permit, new construction, addition, pool packet, zoning approval, sign permit, or tree removal. 3. Submit the application to the Planning, Building & Zoning Department / Permit Technician for review. 4. The Building Official, zoning staff, floodplain review, and other town reviewers process the application as needed. 5. Pay the applicable permit, zoning, and plan review fees under the adopted town fee schedule. 6. Obtain the permit, keep approved materials on site, and proceed through required inspections and any appeal process if needed.

How long does it take to get a building permit in Town of Surfside Beach, SC?

Typical processing time is No public townwide review clock was identified on the reviewed pages..

How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Surfside Beach, SC?

Inspections can be scheduled via: 843-913-6341.

Other cities in Horry County