Building permits in the City of Greenville — the Upstate's downtown hub — are issued by the Building & Permit Center, with applications and construction plans submitted online (the City prefers online) and processed through the Click2Gov system. Most development first requires a Site Plan Permit.
This Greenville building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the Click2Gov process, the Site Plan Permit, trade permits, and inspections — so your Greenville project starts clean.
This guide covers projects inside Greenville city limits (unincorporated Greenville County is permitted by the County's Building Safety Department). Almost all development or redevelopment of a structure or parcel within the City requires a Site Plan Permit before any other building or construction permit is issued, pursuant to Section 19-2.3.9.
What requires a building permit in Greenville?
Under the South Carolina building codes (the International Codes as adopted with South Carolina modifications by the South Carolina Building Codes Council, then locally administered and enforced), a permit is required before you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and renovations
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, windows, doors, and exterior changes
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Decks, pools, accessory structures, and signs
- Change of occupancy or use
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like fixture/device swaps by a licensed contractor
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or systems
- Small projects expressly exempt by code (confirm first)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Most projects require a Site Plan Permit first, so confirm that step before applying for building or trade permits.
Who handles permitting in Greenville?
Plan review and inspections run through the Building & Permit Center (Building Codes), with the Planning Department handling the Site Plan Permit. The City also issues encroachment permits for work in the public right-of-way and coordinates stormwater permitting through environmental engineering.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 204 Halton Road, Greenville, SC 29607 (P.O. Box 2207) |
| Phone | 864-232-CARE (2273) / 864-467-4505, Option 1 |
| buildingcodes@greenvillesc.gov | |
| Online portal | Click2Gov (apply & pay); the City prefers online plan submittal |
| First step | Site Plan Permit (Section 19-2.3.9) before other permits |
| Enforced code | South Carolina building codes |
Apply online. The City of Greenville prefers to accept applications and construction plans online; building permit e-forms are available, and Click2Gov handles permit selection and payment (a 2.65% third-party service fee applies to card transactions). Confirm the Site Plan Permit is in place first, since most development requires it before any other building or construction permit.
Greenville building permit cost
Greenville building permit fees are set by the City fee schedule and based on the type and valuation of work, with separate trade permit fees. A 2.65% service fee applies to debit and credit card transactions (assessed by a third party).
A Site Plan Permit and, where applicable, encroachment or stormwater permits carry their own fees. Confirm current amounts before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Per City fee schedule (type & valuation) |
| Site Plan Permit | Required first for most development |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade |
| Card service fee | 2.65% (third-party processor) |
| Encroachment / stormwater | Where applicable, separate permits |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific Greenville project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Greenville trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work needs its own permit and a South Carolina-licensed contractor, filed through Click2Gov or the City's e-forms.
Electrical permits
Required for service upgrades, panels, solar PV, and most wiring, performed by a SC-licensed electrical contractor.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a SC-licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a SC-licensed mechanical contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, decks, pools, accessory structures, and signs are permitted separately. Work in the public right-of-way requires a general encroachment permit, and projects that change stormwater flows route through the City's environmental engineering division.
Verify your contractor's license. South Carolina licenses commercial general and mechanical contractors through the SC Contractor's Licensing Board, and residential builders, residential specialty contractors, and home inspectors through the SC Residential Builders Commission — both under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). A license is generally required once the value of the work exceeds $5,000 (S.C. Code 40-11-260 for commercial/mechanical; the Residential Home Builders Act for residential). Verify before signing; the property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Greenville
Confirm jurisdiction & site plan
Confirm the parcel is inside Greenville city limits and secure the Site Plan Permit (Section 19-2.3.9) where required.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, stamped plans, and SC license documentation.
Submit online (Click2Gov / e-forms)
Submit the application and construction plans online; the City prefers online submittal.
Plan review & corrections
Building & Permit Center (and Planning for the site plan) reviews; resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the fees (a 2.65% card service fee applies), then post the permit on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections as work progresses. Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Greenville
Request inspections through the Building & Permit Center as work progresses; keep approved plans on site. Typical checkpoints include footing/foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final.
Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection; a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy or use.
Official Greenville permitting resources
- 🏛️ City of Greenville Building & Permit Center
- 💻 Building permit e-forms (online)
- 📋 Permits & forms (Site Plan Permit)
- 🪪 SC Contractor's Licensing Board (LLR)
- 📘 SC Building Codes Council
- 🗺️ Permits & applications (encroachment/stormwater)
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the City of Greenville Building & Permit Center before filing. This is not legal advice.