Surfside Beach, SC — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Planning, Building & Zoning Department, Town of Surfside Beach

Street address

210 Highway 17 S, Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Phone

843-913-6341

MBrodeur@surfsidebeach.org

Coverage

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

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Surfside Beach

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.

Note: No simple public Surfside Beach exemption checklist was identified on the reviewed permit pages. Confirm claimed exemptions directly with PB&Z before relying on them.

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

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.
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.
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.

§ 03

Application process

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

01

Start on the Planning, Building & Zoning page and pull the applicable permit form from the Building & Zoning Forms page.
02

Complete the form for the project type, such as building permit, new construction, addition, pool packet, zoning approval, sign permit, or tree removal.
03

Submit the application to the Planning, Building & Zoning Department / Permit Technician for review.
04

The Building Official, zoning staff, floodplain review, and other town reviewers process the application as needed.
05

Pay the applicable permit, zoning, and plan review fees under the adopted town fee schedule.
06

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Surfside Beach building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

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.

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

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

843-913-6341 (phone)

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

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

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Surfside Beach permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Surfside Beach, SC? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Surfside Beach, SC? ▸

Building permit fees in Surfside Beach, SC are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Surfside Beach, SC? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Surfside Beach, SC, follow these steps: 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.

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

Building permit processing times in Surfside Beach, SC typically run No public townwide review clock was identified on the reviewed pages.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Surfside Beach, SC? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Surfside Beach, SC via: 843-913-6341.

last verified April 2026 source Planning, Building & Zoning Department, Town of Surfside Beach ↗ entry id permits/south-carolina/horry/surfside-beach

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Planning, Building & Zoning Department, Town of Surfside Beach before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Town of Surfside Beach

Other jurisdictions in Horry County.