Inside the City of Cayce, building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas permits come from Building Services in the Planning & Development Department (803-521-6859, inspections@caycesc.gov), with applications and inspection requests filed on the City’s online forms. A $200,000 house pays $896 under the FY26-27 residential schedule plus a 10% plan review fee.
What requires a permit in Cayce?
City rules require a building or mechanical permit before anyone builds, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, demolishes or changes the occupancy of a structure, or works on its electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems. The Building Services FAQ lists the common cases:
Permit required
- Roof replacement
- Window replacement and vinyl siding replacement
- Foundation and sub-floor repairs
- Removing or adding walls
- Carports over 200 sq ft
- Fences over 7 ft (chain-link excluded)
- Retaining walls over 4 ft
- Swimming pools
- Demolition
No permit
- Replacing a small area of shingles or siding
- Accessory buildings under 200 sq ft
- Cabinets and floor coverings
- Painting and wall coverings
- Concrete or asphalt paving
- Fences under 7 ft
- Standard HVAC or plumbing service calls
A City business license is still required for the contractor even when the work needs no permit.
Who issues building permits in Cayce?
Building Services, part of the City’s Planning & Development Department, issues building and trade permits for property inside Cayce, reviews plans, inspects the work and handles code compliance. The department also runs zoning and business licensing, and its contact list names Brent Bullard as the Certified Building Official. Cayce lies mostly in Lexington County with a small part in Richland County; land outside the city limits is permitted by the county it sits in.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| City Hall | 1800 12th Street, Cayce, SC 29033 (803-796-9020) |
| Building Services | 803-521-6859, inspections@caycesc.gov |
| Certified Building Official | Brent Bullard, 843-758-0172 |
| Planning & Zoning Administrator | 803-550-9504 |
| Business licenses | 803-205-4448 |
Cayce permit applications
Every application is an online form linked from the Building Services page: building permit, building plan submittal, and separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, gas and refrigeration permits. There are also forms for electrical and gas safety inspections, a temporary dumpster permit and the inspection request. Permit and re-inspection fees are paid online too.
Owner-builders sign the City’s Owner Acknowledgment (disclosure) Form in front of the Building Official. It covers one- and two-family homes for the owner’s own use, and the owner-built notice must be filed with the register of deeds.
Decks: the City publishes a permit-ready plan for single-level decks attached to a one- or two-family house; you fill in the project-specific values instead of drawing your own design.
Cayce permit fees (FY26-27)
Fees come from the Planning & Development Fees and Charges schedule, FY26-27 column. Homes and commercial buildings have separate tables.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit under $3,000 | $28 minimum |
| $3,000 to $49,999.99 | $28 for the first $3,000 + $5 per $1,000 after |
| $50,000 to $499,999.99 | $296 for the first $50,000 + $4 per $1,000 after |
| $500,000 and up | $2,063 for the first $500,000 + $3 per $1,000 after |
| Plan review | 10% of the building permit |
| Plumbing with fixtures | $36 for the first 3 fixtures + $5 per extra fixture |
| HVAC, electrical or gas | $36 minimum; building fee rates above $3,000 |
| Re-inspections (1st / 2nd / 3rd) | $50 / $75 / $100 |
| Re-inspection of the building final | $150 |
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial building, $100,000 to $499,999.99 | $782 for the first $100,000 + $6 per $1,000 after |
| Commercial plan review | 50% of the building permit |
| Commercial re-inspections (1st / 2nd / 3rd / final) | $100 / $150 / $200 / $250 |
| Safety inspection without a permit | $25 |
| Failure to obtain inspection approval | $500 |
| Zoning permit | $25 per property |
| Demolition / mobile home | $58 each |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Example: a house valued at $200,000 pays $296 + (150 × $4) = $896 for the building permit and $89.60 for plan review, before the trade permits and the $25 zoning permit.
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas permits
Plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors must take out their own mechanical permits before they start, using the City’s separate online applications; routine service calls need no permit. Residential plumbing is priced by fixture ($36 for the first three, $5 each after), and HVAC, electrical and gas work start at $36 and follow the building fee scale above $3,000. Every contractor and subcontractor needs a current Cayce business license. The City’s FAQ adds that commercial plumbing, electrical and HVAC work needs a state mechanical contractor’s licence.
How to build new in Cayce, step by step
Submit 2 sets of plans showing the property layout, setbacks, landscaping, stormwater and utilities.
Once approved, the Planning & Development Director stamps the plans.
Take the stamped plans to Lexington County Public Works/Storm Water Division (803-785-8201) for stormwater approval and a land disturbance permit.
Return the plans with the County’s land disturbance permit, then submit the building plans to the Cayce Building Official.
After the Building Official approves the plans, the building permit is issued and paid online; trade contractors pull their own permits.
Request each inspection on the City’s online inspection request form.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Cayce
Inspections are requested through the online inspection request form on the Building Services page; questions go to inspections@caycesc.gov or 803-521-6859. Residential re-inspections cost $50, $75 and then $100, and a re-inspection of a failed building final costs $150. Failing to get an inspection approval carries a $500 charge. Electrical and gas safety inspections have their own request forms.
Cayce details that shape a project
Stormwater is county-reviewed: new construction plans go to Lexington County’s Storm Water Division for approval and a land disturbance permit before Cayce’s Building Official reviews the building plans.
Business licenses for everyone: all contractors and subcontractors need a current City business license before working on a site, permit or not.
Codes beyond the state set: the City lists the 2017 ICC A117.1 accessibility standard and the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code among the codes it uses.
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 →Cayce official resources
- Review the City’s official department resources
- Open official Cayce inspection information
- Cayce Building Services FAQs
- Cayce Planning & Development fees and charges
- Cayce inspection request form
- Cayce permit-ready deck plan
- Cayce owner-builder disclosure statement
Cayce building permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Cayce?
Building Services in the City of Cayce Planning & Development Department, 803-521-6859, for property inside city limits.
How much is a building permit in Cayce?
For a home, $28 for work under $3,000, rising to $296 plus $4 per $1,000 between $50,000 and $500,000. Plan review adds 10%, so a $200,000 house pays $896 plus $89.60.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit for a fence or shed in Cayce?
Fences under 7 ft and accessory buildings under 200 sq ft need no permit; carports over 200 sq ft and fences over 7 ft do.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof or windows?
Yes, a full roof replacement and window replacement both need a building permit. Replacing a few damaged shingles does not.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in Cayce?
Yes, for a one- or two-family home for your own use, after signing the Owner Acknowledgment Form before the Building Official.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Use the City’s online inspection request form, linked from the Building Services page.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Cayce permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.