Calhoun County Building and Planning (102 Courthouse Drive, St. Matthews, 803-874-4201) issues building permits for the unincorporated county and, after a town pre-permit authorization, for St. Matthews and Cameron. Applications can be filed and tracked on the county’s CommunityCore portal; permits start at a $100 minimum, and residential plan review adds 10% of the permit fee.
What requires a permit in Calhoun County?
The county’s fee schedule covers building, sign and demolition permits, manufactured homes, electrical reconnects and floodplain development, and its published building guides cover the projects homeowners ask about most:
Building permits
- New homes and additions
- Accessory structures and pole barns
- Swimming pools
- Uncovered decks and porches
- Patio covers and carports
- Basement finishes and remodels (with a Scope of Work form)
- Re-roofing, with the county’s roofing affidavit
- Commercial buildings, signs and demolition
Other county approvals
- Residential or commercial zoning permit
- Floodplain development permit
- Manufactured home placement
- Electrical reconnects
- Subdivision plats
- Farm structures, using the agricultural affidavit and guidelines
Who issues building permits in Calhoun County?
The Calhoun County Building and Planning Office handles permitting and development for residential, commercial and industrial projects, and says it serves both the incorporated and unincorporated parts of the county. It also runs zoning, the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, and code enforcement.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 102 Courthouse Drive, St. Matthews, SC 29135 |
| Phone | 803-874-4201 |
| planning@calhouncounty.sc.gov | |
| Online | CommunityCore public portal: apply and check permit status |
| Schedule | Inspections Monday, Wednesday and Friday; plan reviews and meetings Tuesday and Thursday |
| Place | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Calhoun County | Calhoun County Building and Planning |
| Town of St. Matthews | The county issues the permit after the town reviews the county’s St. Matthews pre-permit application and authorizes it; every contractor needs a Town business license |
| Town of Cameron | The county issues the permit once Cameron signs its pre-permit authorization; for property inside town limits, visit Cameron Town Hall, 204 Boyce Lawton, first |
Calhoun County permit fees
The county’s Building and Planning fee schedule dated July 1, 2025 values projects with the latest ICC Building Valuation Data table. Each band picks up where the last one ends.
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Any permit | $100 minimum |
| Up to $100,000 | $100 + $5 per $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $600 + $4 per $1,000 over $100,000 |
| Over $500,000 | $2,200 + $3 per $1,000 over $500,000 |
| Residential plan review | 10% of the permit, $100 minimum |
| Commercial plan review | 35% of the permit |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential / commercial zoning permit | $50 / $100 |
| Floodplain development permit | $200 |
| Manufactured home | $300 |
| Electrical reconnect | $50 |
| Re-inspection | $100 each |
| Refund of a permit | 25% of the permit fee is kept |
| Zoning appeal or map amendment | $300 |
Example: a house valued at $200,000 pays $600 + (100 × $4) = $1,000 for the permit, $100 for residential plan review and $50 for the residential zoning permit. Starting without a permit doubles the permit fee.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work
Trade work on a house is shown on the plans and inspected by the county: the plan set must include plumbing and electrical sheets, with receptacle, GFCI, AFCI, smoke detector and panel locations and an exterior disconnect, and the HVAC contractor supplies Manual J and D calculations. Electrical and plumbing under a slab get their own inspection before the slab pour. The application must list every contractor and subcontractor with a copy of their state licence, plus a town business license for work inside St. Matthews or Cameron; the list is updated before the final inspection.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to apply for a Calhoun County building permit
Get the 911 address verification and zoning approval from the county; inside St. Matthews or Cameron, complete that town’s pre-permit application.
Provide proof of water and sewer service, a state septic permit for a new system, or an installer’s approval of an existing one.
One paper and one digital copy, drawn to engineer’s scale: floor plan, wall section, plumbing, electrical and elevations, plus RESCheck, Manual J and D and a scaled site plan with setbacks, driveway and parking. The truss package can follow later.
A copy of the contractor’s licence, a notarized agent letter if someone else collects the permit, a notarized letter from the homeowner authorizing the contractor, and the subcontractor list.
File through the CommunityCore portal or at the office; plan reviews are done on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Call at least 24 hours ahead for a Monday, Wednesday or Friday inspection.
Inspections in Calhoun County
Inspections run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with at least 24 hours’ notice, and the county cannot promise a time. When you call, give the address, permit number, inspection type, contractor name and a phone number. The county’s residential guide sets the order:
Rather not deal with the Calhoun County building department?
Get a free quote →- Foundation: permit posted, approved plans on site, rebar in place with a Ufer ground, and termite treatment before the pour.
- Slab: 10-mil vapor barrier, compaction results for fill, and any under-slab plumbing or electrical inspected first.
- Piers or CMU walls: crawl-space homes only, before the pour.
- Wall and roof sheathing: nailing and hold-downs, before wrap or felt.
- Rough-in: framing, electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical in one visit, with gas lines pressure-tested (10 psi natural gas, 20 psi LP).
- Insulation: R-19 floors, R-13 walls, R-30 ceilings.
- Final (CO): with the duct leakage affidavit, energy certificate, septic permit to operate and termite letter. Paint, carpet and vinyl can wait.
Each re-inspection costs $100.
Calhoun County details to know
Owner-builders: homeowners pulling their own permit file the county’s Owner-Builder Affidavit and may use family members, not friends, to help; anyone hired under contract must be licensed for the full contract amount.
Floodplain: building in a flood zone needs the county’s $200 floodplain development permit under its flood ordinance.
Permit activity: the office posts monthly reports of issued permits on its web page.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Calhoun County official resources
- SC Contractor’s Licensing Board
- SC Building Codes Council
- Calhoun County Residential Plan and Inspection Guidelines
- Calhoun County Building and Planning
- Calhoun County Building and Planning fees (July 2025)
- Residential Permit Submittal Requirements
- Calhoun County CommunityCore permit portal
- Town of St. Matthews pre-permit application
- Town of Cameron pre-permit application
Calhoun County permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Calhoun County?
Calhoun County Building and Planning at 102 Courthouse Drive, St. Matthews (803-874-4201), for the unincorporated county and, after town authorization, for St. Matthews and Cameron.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit in Calhoun County?
$100 plus $5 per $1,000 of value up to $100,000, then $600 plus $4 per $1,000 above that. Residential plan review adds 10% (at least $100), so a $200,000 house pays $1,000 plus $100.
On what days are inspections held?
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with at least 24 hours’ notice. Tuesdays and Thursdays are kept for plan reviews and meetings.
Do I need town approval in St. Matthews or Cameron?
Yes. Complete the town’s pre-permit application; the county issues the permit after the town signs it, and contractors in St. Matthews need a Town business license.
Can I apply online?
Yes. The county’s CommunityCore portal takes permit applications and shows their status.
What does a manufactured home permit cost?
$300 under the July 2025 fee schedule.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Calhoun County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.