County Building Permits
Richland County, SC - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, South Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies to unincorporated Richland County only. Incorporated municipalities such as Columbia, Forest Acres, Blythewood, and Arcadia Lakes should be routed to their own permitting authority when they administer permits inside municipal limits.
- Department
- Richland County Building Permitting and Inspections
- Address
- 2020 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29204
- Phone
- 803-576-2140
Online Permit Portal
Platform: eTrakit • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Richland County and not inside a municipality with its own permit office.
- If applying as a homeowner acting as owner-builder, contact the Building Permitting Office and apply at the permitting counter in person with proof of ownership, plat, drawings, subcontractor information, and required forms.
- If applying as a licensed residential or commercial contractor, create or activate an eTrakit contractor account and submit through the online contractor program.
- Submit the application and supporting plans for review and approval.
- For owner-builders, complete the notarized Statement of Disclosure and record it with the Register of Deeds.
- After all approvals are complete, pay fees at the permitting counter or through the county workflow and obtain permit issuance.
- Schedule inspections in the required order; the county says scheduled inspections are inspected the following business day.
Typical processing time: Approval may take up to 14 days for homeowner applications.
General Requirements
The county requires permits for commercial and residential new construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement and setup of a building to another site, and removal or demolition of any building.
Required Documents
- Proof of property ownership
- Copy of property plat
- Architectural drawings (except pure trade permits)
- Names and license numbers of subcontractors
- Applicable permit applications
- Any additional project-specific documentation
- Permit validity
- No general permit expiration period was clearly posted on the county pages reviewed.
- Building code
- Richland County enforces the South Carolina state-mandated building codes in effect for local jurisdictions; confirm edition with the county for unusual projects.
- Owner-builder
- The county requires a notarized Statement of Disclosure for owner-builders and states it prevents the owner from selling or renting the home for a period of two years.
- Contractor requirements
- The county requires licensed residential and commercial contractors to use the online contractor program; homeowner applications must list subcontractor license numbers. South Carolina LLR licensing applies.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages.
- Plan check fee
- Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages.
- Permit fee formula
- Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages.
- Reinspection fee
- Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages.
- Payment note
- The county building permits page says the Permit Specialist collects payment and issues the permit once all forms, documents, and approvals are complete.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Richland County Building Permitting and Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- eTrakit Portal (online)
- Building Inspection Office: 803-576-2140 (option 2) (phone)
- Time windows
- Inspections scheduled are inspected the following business day; no weekend or holiday inspections outside emergency situations approved by the department.
Typical inspection sequence: Saw pole, footing, raised slabs, pier and curtain wall, monolithic, plumbing under slab, sheathing, house wrap, framing rough, electrical rough, mechanical rough, plumbing rough, insulation, temporary electric, temporary gas, and final inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Richland County enforces the South Carolina state-mandated building codes in effect for local jurisdictions; confirm edition with the county for unusual projects.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Plan Review
- Commercial Inspection
- Manufactured Homes
- License lookup guide: South Carolina Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: South Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- South Carolina hub: South Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Richland County Building Permitting and Inspections before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Richland County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, SC?
- The county requires permits for commercial and residential new construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement and setup of a building to another site, and removal or demolition of any building.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Richland County, SC?
- The minimum permit fee is Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages.. Fees are calculated as: Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages.. Plan check fee: Not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, SC?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Richland County and not inside a municipality with its own permit office. 2. If applying as a homeowner acting as owner-builder, contact the Building Permitting Office and apply at the permitting counter in person with proof of ownership, plat, drawings, subcontractor information, and required forms. 3. If applying as a licensed residential or commercial contractor, create or activate an eTrakit contractor account and submit through the online contractor program. 4. Submit the application and supporting plans for review and approval. 5. For owner-builders, complete the notarized Statement of Disclosure and record it with the Register of Deeds. 6. After all approvals are complete, pay fees at the permitting counter or through the county workflow and obtain permit issuance. 7. Schedule inspections in the required order; the county says scheduled inspections are inspected the following business day.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Richland County, SC?
- Typical processing time is Approval may take up to 14 days for homeowner applications..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Richland County, SC?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: eTrakit Portal, Building Inspection Office: 803-576-2140 (option 2).
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