Building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits inside Clemson city limits are issued by the City’s Planning & Development Department, 1250 Tiger Boulevard, Suite 4 (864-653-2050), and applications go through the City’s online Contractor Web Portal. Permit fees start at $50 for work up to $5,000, and a house of up to 2,400 sq ft adds a $75 plan review fee.
What requires a permit in Clemson?
The City requires a building permit for all new construction, repairs and renovations, and its Building and Fire Safety program lists the work that falls under the permit process:
Building
- New buildings
- Significant alterations and enlargements
- Most major remodeling
- Reroofing
- Accessory buildings
- Swimming pools
- Signs
- Demolition and moving a building
Trades and other City permits
- Plumbing, electrical and mechanical (HVAC) work in new and altered structures
- Grading
- Manufactured homes
- Zoning permits
- Home occupations and food trucks
The construction rules sit in Chapter 5 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, and the fire and life safety rules in Chapter 8; zoning and land development are governed by the City’s Land Development Regulations.
Who issues building permits in Clemson?
Planning & Development handles all permitting for new construction, the zoning ordinance and map, and the City’s short- and long-term rental housing programs, and also houses the Engineering and Parking Services divisions. A Chief Building and Fire Official runs both the building inspection and fire inspection programs.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | City of Clemson Planning & Development |
| Address | 1250 Tiger Boulevard, Suite 4, Clemson, SC 29631 |
| Phone | 864-653-2050 |
| Applications | Contractor Web Portal (EnerGov self-service) |
The City permits only work inside its limits. Most of Clemson is in Pickens County and a sliver is in Anderson County; unincorporated land around the city is permitted by those counties.
Applying through the Contractor Web Portal
Permit applications are made online through the City’s Contractor Web Portal. Contractors need a South Carolina contractor’s licence or residential homebuilder licence and a City of Clemson business license. The Permitting page publishes the supporting forms:
- Building Permit Sub-List, naming the subcontractors.
- Contractor Authorization Form.
- Owner / Builder Disclosure Form, for owner-builders.
- Zoning Permit Application.
- Residential Checklist for Issuing a CO.
- The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code compliance material.
Home occupation and food truck permits have their own applications.
Clemson permit fees
The City’s Permit Fee Schedule (the 2022 schedule) sets the building permit fee from the total valuation:
| Total valuation | Building permit fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 or less | $50 |
| $5,001 to $50,000 | $50 for the first $5,000 plus $7 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $365 for the first $50,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $665 for the first $100,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,001 and up | $2,665 for the first $500,000 plus $4 per additional $1,000 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Plan review is charged on top of the permit fee:
| Project | Plan review fee |
|---|---|
| House or duplex up to 2,400 sq ft (not in a group development) | $75 |
| House or duplex 2,401–4,800 sq ft | $150 |
| House or duplex over 4,800 sq ft | $250 |
| Residential alteration, addition or accessory building | $50 |
| House or duplex in a group development | 50% of the permit fee |
| Non-residential and multifamily | 50% of the permit fee, paid at submission |
Example: a 2,000 sq ft house valued at $300,000, outside a group development, has a $1,665 permit fee ($665 plus 200 × $5) and a $75 plan review fee. After two resubmissions of revised plans, each further submission is charged plan review again at 50% of the permit fee.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Grading, under 1/2 acre and single-family homes | $50 |
| Grading, 1/2 to 2 acres | $1,000 |
| Grading, over 2 acres | $1,000 plus $25 per lot, plus $0.01 per linear foot of water, sewer, stormwater and road |
| Demolition | $150 per structure; multi-unit: $150 plus $50 per unit or utility tap, whichever is greater |
| Manufactured home | $100 |
| Moving a building out of the city | $150 |
| Re-inspection | $50 |
| Failure to cancel a scheduled inspection | $50 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Trade permits and fire review
Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work on new and altered structures is permitted through Planning & Development. Trade contractors on a job are listed on the Building Permit Sub-List.
The City Fire Marshal reviews plans and carries out construction inspections for all commercial and multifamily buildings, and makes the annual life safety inspections of existing commercial buildings. Fire protection in the city is provided by the Clemson University Fire Department, which the Fire Marshal liaises with.
What the City checks before a CO
For a new house, the City’s Residential Checklist for Issuing a CO shows what has to be in place, beyond passing every final inspection with sign-off from Business License, Utilities, Zoning and Stormwater:
- Duct tightness certification and proof of termite treatment
- An elevation certificate if the lot is in a floodplain
- Correct building height and setbacks, and the 911 number posted
- Ground covered with sod, mulch or seed and straw, with at least 70% growth and no bare patch over 25 sq ft
- Driveways and parking free of excess mud, streetscape and tree requirements met, and a break in any fence every 50 ft
- Storm drains cleaned out and positive grading away from the house; an as-built set of drawings may be required
- Agreed curbs and sidewalks installed and any damaged roads or sidewalks repaired
- Sewer and water lines tested, with permits to operate
- Any alarm system tested and approved
The construction sign must come down within three days after the CO is issued.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a building permit in Clemson
Check the zoning for the lot and file a zoning permit application where the project needs one.
The contractor needs a state licence and a City business license, or the owner signs the owner/builder disclosure.
Upload the plans and the subcontractor list with the application.
Houses pay a flat fee by size; commercial and multifamily jobs pay 50% of the permit fee at submission.
The Fire Marshal reviews commercial and multifamily plans.
Pass every inspection and clear the CO checklist with all City departments.
Inspections in Clemson
Building inspectors from the City’s Building and Fire Safety program inspect permitted work, and the Fire Marshal inspects commercial and multifamily construction. A re-inspection costs $50, payable before the re-inspection. The City counts any trip beyond those listed on the permit job card as a re-inspection, including visits for condemned or disapproved work, work not ready when the inspection was called in, and trips where the inspector could not get access. Failing to cancel a scheduled inspection also costs $50.
Local details that matter in Clemson
Rental housing: Planning & Development manages Clemson’s short-term and long-term rental housing programs alongside permitting.
Site finish before CO: zoning and stormwater staff both sign off on a new house, so ground cover, erosion control removal (unless still required) and drainage must be complete before the CO, not just the building.
University fire service: the Clemson University Fire Department provides fire protection for the city, and the City Fire Marshal also helps with fire scene investigations at the Fire Chief’s request.
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
Clemson official permit resources
- City of Clemson Planning & Development
- Clemson Building and Fire Safety
- Clemson permitting page and forms
- Clemson Contractor Web Portal
- Permit fee schedule
- Non-building permit fee schedule
- Residential checklist for issuing a CO
- Owner/builder disclosure form
- Clemson Land Development Regulations
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Clemson permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Clemson?
The City of Clemson Planning & Development Department, 1250 Tiger Boulevard, Suite 4 (864-653-2050), for work inside city limits.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Clemson?
It depends on valuation; a $300,000 house pays $1,665. A house of up to 2,400 sq ft adds a $75 plan review fee.
Can I apply online?
Yes. Applications are made through the City’s Contractor Web Portal.
Do contractors need a Clemson business license?
Yes. The City requires a state contractor or homebuilder licence and a City business license.
Do I need a permit for a new roof or a shed?
Yes. Reroofing and accessory buildings are both subject to the City’s permit process.
Who reviews fire plans for commercial buildings?
The City Fire Marshal reviews and inspects all commercial and multifamily construction.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Clemson permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.