Forest Acres, South Carolina Building Permit Guide

In Forest Acres, the City’s Building Department issues building permits and completes the inspections, and applications are turned in at City Hall, 5209 N. Trenholm Road (803-782-9475), for processing and payment. Under the FY2027 fee schedule a residential permit costs $5 per $1,000 of work with a $50 minimum, plus a plan review fee of 15% of the permit fee when plans are reviewed.

What needs a permit in Forest Acres?

The City’s fee schedule and forms show the permits the Building Department issues, together with the City approvals that often go with them:

A tree removal permit is needed for any tree 12 inches or more in diameter at breast height, for sweet bay, eastern redbud, American holly and flowering dogwood of 4 inches or more and sourwood of 6 inches or more, for any tree within 25 ft of the Forest Drive, Trenholm Road or Beltline Boulevard right-of-way, and for trees or shrubs in the 5 ft buffer between residential and commercial property.

Who issues building permits in Forest Acres?

The City of Forest Acres Building Department issues permits and completes inspections for property inside the city. Jeremy Burrows is the Building Official. Forest Acres lies in Richland County, but inside the city limits the permit comes from the City.

The City’s GovWell portal can also tell you whether an address is inside Forest Acres city limits.

Forest Acres applications

Building permit applications are filed at City Hall rather than through an online permit system. The forms the City publishes are:

• Building permit application, with the subcontractor list and a copy of the signed contract showing the owner’s and contractor’s names and addresses and the scope and cost of the work.
• Plan review application, required whenever the Building Official has to review plans.
• Homeowner Exemption disclosure statement, signed before an owner can pull a permit as their own contractor.
• Land Disturbance Permit Application, with a tree survey, the significant trees to be removed and why, and, where required, a site plan and a replanting plan with replacement trees equal to at least 50% of the significant trees removed.
• Tree Removal Permit Application, filed online through GovWell.
• Wall sign and freestanding sign applications, usually turned around in 2 to 3 days.
• Deck Submittal Guide and a Permit-Ready Deck Plan.

Forest Acres permit fees (FY2027)

Fees come from the City’s approved FY2027 Master Fee Schedule.

Example: a new house with $300,000 of work has a $1,500 building permit, and the plan review fee is at least $225 (15%), plus any direct costs. Re-inspections are $50 each, and the schedule lists a separate $150 charge for failure to obtain inspection approval; a land disturbance permit is charged the same as a commercial building permit and plan review. Signs cost $50 up to $2,499.99 in value, or $11 per $1,000 above that; zoning permits are free and a zoning verification letter is $25.

Plans and electronic submittals

When plans need review, the City asks for two sets of construction documents with the plan review application, showing:

• The property plat with existing buildings and the proposed construction
• Footing and foundation details
• A cross section or full framing details: joists, rafters, roof pitch, spans, spacing and the wall bracing method under IRC 602.10
• The floor plan and elevations of every side
• Electrical details: receptacles, GFCI and smoke detector locations and the panel
• Energy code information or REScheck, a Manual J equipment sizing and a Manual D duct design

Electronic plans must follow the City’s submittal standards or they fail the sufficiency review: plans in one file named Plans.pdf and supporting documents in Docs.pdf, a cover sheet with the parcel ID and address, a blank 4 by 4 inch area at the bottom right of every sheet for the City’s stamps, landscape pages (24 by 36 inches preferred), searchable rather than scanned PDFs, bookmarks matching the index, and no PDF comments. Building and site sheets carry a South Carolina design professional’s seal, though one- and two-family homes that meet the residential code are exempt. Revisions are resubmitted as a complete set with a cover letter answering each comment.

How to get a building permit in Forest Acres

Inspections in Forest Acres

The Building Department completes the inspections for the permits it issues. The fee schedule charges $50 for each re-inspection, including a repeat building final, a $150 charge for failure to obtain inspection approval, and $35 for a safety inspection where there is no permit.

Local details that matter in Forest Acres

Trees: the City’s tree ordinance aims to keep the forested character of Forest Acres. Unsightly trees do not qualify for removal on that ground alone; the City considers whether a tree is dead or dying, structurally unstable, blocking essential grading, utilities, a reasonable site layout or code requirements, or has lost at least half its canopy to storm damage.

Temporary signs: banners and temporary signs are not allowed except for public, charitable, educational or religious events, and code enforcement removes unpermitted ones on sight.

Homeowner Exemption: owners acting as their own general contractor must not sell or rent the property within two years of finishing the work.

Zoning: the City has adopted a Unified Development Ordinance, which GovWell’s chat tool can search.

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

Forest Acres official permit resources

• Forest Acres permits and applications
• Forest Acres forms and permits
• Master Fee Schedule FY2027
• Plan review application
• Electronic document submittal standards
• Deck submittal guide
• Homeowner exemption disclosure
• Tree removal permit information
• Land disturbance and grading application
• Forest Acres GovWell portal

Forest Acres permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Forest Acres?

The City of Forest Acres Building Department, at City Hall, 5209 N. Trenholm Road (803-782-9475). Jeremy Burrows is the Building Official.

How much is a residential building permit in Forest Acres?

$5 per $1,000 of work, with a $50 minimum, under the FY2027 schedule. Plan review adds 15% of the permit fee plus direct costs, at least $150 for a new house.

Can I apply online?

Building permits are turned in at City Hall for processing and payment; tree removal permits are filed online in GovWell.

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

Yes for any tree 12 inches or wider at breast height, smaller specimens of five listed species, trees near the Forest Drive, Trenholm Road and Beltline Boulevard right-of-way, and trees in commercial buffers.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Forest Acres?

Yes, under the Homeowner Exemption, after signing the disclosure statement; otherwise only SC LLR licensed contractors can obtain permits.

How much is a re-inspection?

$50 each, including a repeat building final. The schedule separately charges $150 for failure to obtain inspection approval.

Simplify Forest Acres permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in South Carolina. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Forest Acres permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.