The City of Anderson Building and Codes Department (601 S. Main St., 864-231-2217) issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other permits for work inside city limits, and applications are filed in ViewPoint Cloud. One valuation table, in force since July 1, 2022, prices nearly every permit: a $150,000 house pays $717, plus $25 residential plan review and a $200 new-construction impact fee.
What needs a permit in the City of Anderson?
The department’s rule is short: permits are required for all new construction, repairs and renovations. Its fee schedule shows the permit types the City issues.
Priced on the valuation table
- Building permits
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC/mechanical permits
- Sprinkler and alarm system permits
- Permanent signs
Flat-fee permits
- Demolition or deconstruction
- Moving or setting up a structure
- Grading
- Temporary signs
- Home occupation and temporary non-residential use
- Code compliance or change-of-occupancy inspection
Floodplain development has its own City application, and site plans go through engineering and stormwater review.
Who issues building permits in Anderson?
The Building and Codes Department, part of the City’s Planning and Development Division, issues building and trade permits for property inside the City of Anderson, reviews plans for new construction, and inspects the work through the Certificate of Occupancy. It also enforces the property maintenance and nuisance abatement codes and the City’s floodplain rules. Land outside the city limits falls under Anderson County Building & Codes instead.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Municipal Business Center, 601 S. Main St., Suite 204, Anderson, SC 29624 |
| Phone | 864-231-2217 |
| Inspection line | 864-231-2219 |
| Planning and Development | 864-231-2222 |
| Online | ViewPoint Cloud (OpenGov), andersonsc.viewpointcloud.com |
Applying in ViewPoint Cloud
On the City’s ViewPoint Cloud site, choose Building and Codes, pick the permit type and register with an email address the first time. The same account works for later permits, and the application can be tracked online from issue through inspections to the Certificate of Occupancy.
The fee is not charged at submission. It becomes due once intake review is complete, every involved City department has approved the application and the contractor’s City business license has been paid. An email then asks for payment: pay by card online, or bring cash or a check to the office. A second email says the permit is ready to print.
Who can apply: contractors need a state licence (or South Carolina home builder licence) and a City of Anderson business license. Contractors based outside the city will find a Nonresident Contractor Adjustment Form among the City’s forms.
Supporting forms: the Forms page holds the Site Development Checklist, the Stormwater Department’s detailed site checklist, a utilities plan review checklist, the 2009 Energy Code Checklist, the floodplain development application and the water and sewer service application.
City of Anderson permit fees
The City’s Comprehensive Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2022) applies one valuation table to building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sign, sprinkler and alarm permits. Each band charges per $1,000 of value or fraction of $1,000.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $2,000 | $40 |
| $2,001 to $15,000 | $40 + $6.50 per $1,000 over $2,000 |
| $15,001 to $50,000 | $124.50 + $5.50 per $1,000 over $15,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $317 + $4.50 per $1,000 over $50,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $542 + $3.50 per $1,000 over $100,000 |
| Over $500,000 | $1,942 + $2.50 per $1,000 over $500,000 |
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential plan review | $25 |
| Commercial plan review | Half the building permit fee |
| Site plan engineering/stormwater review | $750 + $100 per acre or fraction |
| New construction impact fee | $200 single-family or commercial; $200 for the first multi-family unit + $50 per extra unit, $1,000 maximum |
| Grading | $100 up to 1 acre + $20 per additional acre or fraction |
| Demolition | $50 residential / $100 commercial |
| Moving or setting up a structure | $100 |
| Temporary sign | $100 |
| Change of occupancy inspection | $20 |
| Re-inspection | $50 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Example: a new house valued at $150,000 pays $542 + (50 × $3.50) = $717 for the building permit, $25 for plan review and the $200 impact fee, a total of $942 before its trade permits.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits in Anderson
Building and Codes issues the trade permits too, each through ViewPoint Cloud and each priced on the same valuation table as the building permit, so a $5,000 HVAC change-out costs $40 + (3 × $6.50) = $59.50. Trade contractors need the same state licence and City business license as builders. Sprinkler and fire alarm system permits follow the same table.
How to get a building permit in Anderson
Look up the parcel on the City’s interactive zoning map and check whether it is in the Boulevard, Downtown, Westside or North Anderson historic district.
Use the Site Development Checklist, the stormwater checklist for site work and the 2009 Energy Code Checklist for a new home.
Choose Building and Codes, select the permit type and upload the application.
Intake staff and each involved department review the application; new construction plans are reviewed by Building and Codes.
After approval and payment of the City business license, pay the emailed invoice online or at the office and print the permit.
Use the inspection line, 864-231-2219, before 4:00 p.m. the day before each inspection.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in the City of Anderson
Builders request inspections on the inspection line, 864-231-2219, before 4:00 p.m. on the day before. If the work is not ready when the inspector arrives, a $50 fee must be paid before the re-inspection. Additional inspections can be requested at no charge as time allows.
The City’s Residential Builders Inspection Checklist sets the order for a new house:
- Footing: before concrete; setbacks must be visible, for example with string lines, and footings at least 12 inches below grade, with silt fence and a gravel construction entrance in place.
- Plumbing under slab: under test with fittings exposed; it can be combined with the footing visit.
- Building slab: utilities, gravel base, vapor barrier and reinforcement in place.
- Rough-in: framing, HVAC, plumbing and electrical before sheetrock.
- Final utilities: gas tags and permanent power approved.
- Final building: the house complete with appliances set; the Certificate of Occupancy is issued at this point.
Approved plans must stay on site for the whole job, and nobody may occupy the building until every inspection is passed and the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
Anderson rules that shape a project
Unified Development Ordinance: the City’s updated UDO sets zoning, land use and site design standards, and the Planning Division (864-231-2222) answers zoning questions.
Historic districts: the Boulevard, Downtown, Westside and North Anderson districts have mapped boundaries and published design guidelines covering rehabilitation, additions, site design and infill.
Floodplain: building in a mapped flood area needs the City’s floodplain development application.
Utilities: the City publishes its own water and sewer service application and a utilities plan review checklist.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →South Carolina building code
Every South Carolina county and municipality enforces the 2021 South Carolina Building Codes, in force since 1 January 2023; the 2024 editions take effect statewide on 1 January 2027, and the energy code stays the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. South Carolina building codes
Anderson official resources
- Anderson Building & Codes
- City of Anderson ViewPoint Cloud permitting
- ViewPoint Cloud Quick Guide
- Residential Builders Inspection Checklist
- City of Anderson forms
- City of Anderson Planning, UDO and historic districts
City of Anderson permit FAQ
Who issues building permits inside the City of Anderson?
The City’s Building and Codes Department at 601 S. Main St. (864-231-2217) issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other permits for work inside city limits.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit in Anderson?
It follows a valuation table: $40 up to $2,000, and $542 plus $3.50 per $1,000 for jobs between $100,000 and $500,000. A $150,000 house pays $717, plus $25 residential plan review and a $200 impact fee.
How do I apply for a permit in Anderson?
Online in ViewPoint Cloud: choose Building and Codes, then the permit type. You pay once every department has approved the application and the contractor’s City business license is paid.
What happens if I start work without a permit?
The City imposes a $200 fine and doubles the permit fee.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call the inspection line, 864-231-2219, before 4:00 p.m. the day before. A failed or not-ready inspection costs $50 before the inspector returns.
How much is commercial plan review?
Half the building permit fee. Site plans also pay a $750 engineering and stormwater review fee plus $100 per acre.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Anderson permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.