County Building Permits
York County, SC - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated York County, South Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County building permits apply in unincorporated York County rather than inside municipal limits. County-administered local taxes and related programs may also extend into Hickory Grove and Sharon for certain purposes, but city permit offices govern work inside Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Clover, and York.
- Department
- Planning & Development Services, York County
- Address
- 18 W. Liberty Street, York, SC 29745-0096
- Phone
- 803-909-7200
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Evolve Public Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine the permit path based on project type, such as residential all-inclusive permit, MPEG permit, commercial building plans, zoning permit, sign permit, or civil/site construction review.
- Use the county Evolve portal to Apply for Permit for residential work or Create Project for commercial plans, zoning permits, variances, rezonings, and other development workflows.
- Upload the required packet and supporting documents from the county permit checklists and permit packets.
- County staff review plans, route comments, and request revisions if needed.
- Pay permit fees and any applicable impact fees; new-home applicants may also need school impact fee payment processing through the county.
- After issuance, schedule inspections online or by the 24-hour line and proceed through the required inspection sequence to final approval.
Typical processing time: No countywide review clock was clearly stated, but inspections must be requested by 3:00 p.m. the business day before and are generally scheduled for the following business day if slots are available.
General Requirements
County portal and permit packets cover new homes, additions, decks, detached garages and workshops, pools, trade permits, commercial buildings, zoning permits, variances, rezonings, sign permits, land disturbance, and civil construction approvals.
Required Documents
- County permit packet or online application
- Checklist items
- Plans
- Approved site materials
- Contractor information
- Subcontractor information where applicable
- State or local impact-fee materials when required
- Permit validity
- County impact fee page states residential building permits are valid for six months from date of approval and automatically expire if no inspections are scheduled within that six-month period.
- Building code
- As of January 1, 2023, York County states it has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina amendments for residential work; related county pages and packets also reflect 2021-era adopted codes for broader permitting.
- Owner-builder
- County permit packets incorporate South Carolina owner-builder rules; confirm any recorded disclosure requirements directly with the county packet for the project type.
- Contractor requirements
- County permit packets and trade paths rely on South Carolina licensing rules for builders and specialty trades while keeping local permit approval and inspections mandatory.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $17 for valuations of $1,000 and under
- Plan check fee
- Non-residential plan review is one-half of the permit fee.
- Permit fee formula
- $17 for the first $1,000, then $7 for each additional $1,000 up to $50,000, with higher tiers in the county fee schedule; separate flat and project-based fees apply for planning, stormwater, and land development items.
- Reinspection fee
- Residential reinspection $50; non-residential reinspection $100; stormwater reinspection fees also apply.
- Payment note
- York County does not accept credit card payments for impact fees; checks for impact fees are payable to York County.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2022).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Planning & Development Services, York County to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- www.yorkcountygov.com/permitting (online)
- 803-909-7200, option 2 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the business day before.
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: County residential checklist lists typical inspections including footing, slab or garage slab, plumbing under slab, open floor, rough framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, fireplace, house wrap, insulation, gas test, temporary power, and final.
Additional Resources
- Building code: As of January 1, 2023, York County states it has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina amendments for residential work; related county pages and packets also reflect 2021-era adopted codes for broader permitting.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Impact Fee
- Residential Inspection Checklist
- Civil Construction Plan Review
- 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 Planning & Development Services, York County before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
York County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated York County, SC?
- County portal and permit packets cover new homes, additions, decks, detached garages and workshops, pools, trade permits, commercial buildings, zoning permits, variances, rezonings, sign permits, land disturbance, and civil construction approvals.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated York County, SC?
- The minimum permit fee is $17 for valuations of $1,000 and under. Fees are calculated as: $17 for the first $1,000, then $7 for each additional $1,000 up to $50,000, with higher tiers in the county fee schedule; separate flat and project-based fees apply for planning, stormwater, and land development items.. Plan check fee: Non-residential plan review is one-half of the permit fee..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated York County, SC?
- 1. Determine the permit path based on project type, such as residential all-inclusive permit, MPEG permit, commercial building plans, zoning permit, sign permit, or civil/site construction review. 2. Use the county Evolve portal to Apply for Permit for residential work or Create Project for commercial plans, zoning permits, variances, rezonings, and other development workflows. 3. Upload the required packet and supporting documents from the county permit checklists and permit packets. 4. County staff review plans, route comments, and request revisions if needed. 5. Pay permit fees and any applicable impact fees; new-home applicants may also need school impact fee payment processing through the county. 6. After issuance, schedule inspections online or by the 24-hour line and proceed through the required inspection sequence to final approval.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated York County, SC?
- Typical processing time is No countywide review clock was clearly stated, but inspections must be requested by 3:00 p.m. the business day before and are generally scheduled for the following business day if slots are available..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated York County, SC?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: www.yorkcountygov.com/permitting, 803-909-7200, option 2. Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the business day before..
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