The City of Hanahan Building & Codes Department issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and pool permits inside city limits, with applications filed online through GovPossible; unincorporated land nearby is permitted by Berkeley County. Each permit carries a $30 issuing fee plus a valuation or itemized fee, and inspections requested before 3:00 p.m. are normally scheduled for the next business day.
What requires a permit in Hanahan?
The City requires permits for the construction, reconstruction, alteration and repair of buildings, swimming pools, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas systems. Its 2026 handout on exempt work separates jobs that need only a zoning permit from jobs that need nothing.
Zoning permit only
- One-story detached accessory buildings up to 200 sq ft
- Fences up to 7 ft high
- Retaining walls up to 4 ft, measured from the bottom of the footing
- Sidewalks and driveways
- Decks up to 200 sq ft that are no more than 30 in above grade at any point
No permit
- Prefabricated pools less than 24 in deep
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpet, cabinets and countertops
- Replacing breakers of the same size in the same place, and other minor electrical repairs
- Portable heating, cooling and cooking appliances
- Stopping leaks and clearing stoppages, unless pipe has to be replaced
Removing a tree of 8 in diameter at breast height or more also needs a City tree removal permit.
Who issues building permits in Hanahan?
Building & Codes handles permits, residential and commercial plan review, inspections, zoning, business licensing, contractor licence checks, tree removal permits and code enforcement for the City. Larry Sturdivant, CBO, is the Chief Building Official. Property outside the city limits is permitted by Berkeley County.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | City of Hanahan Building & Codes |
| Permits and inspections | 843-576-5259 (Permit Clerk) |
| Chief Building Official | Larry Sturdivant, CBO, 843-576-5260 |
| City Hall | 1255 Yeamans Hall Road, Hanahan, SC 29410 (843-554-4221) |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Portal | GovPossible (sc-hanahan-portal.govpossible.com) |
Applying for a Hanahan permit
Permit applications go in online through the City’s GovPossible portal. One City form covers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, pool and demolition permits, and asks for the construction cost, the contractor’s SC LLR licence and the Hanahan business license number. Staff record whether the lot is in a flood zone.
Before a permit is issued the City checks the contractor’s state licence and City business license and asks for a copy of the contract. The City tells homeowners not to take out a permit on a contractor’s behalf. Owners who build their own home sign the 2026 Owner/Builder Disclosure Statement and must file it with the Register of Deeds.
Other City forms used with permits include the Deed Restriction Notice Form, the 2009 IECC Compliance Form, the Window and Door Form, the Zoning Permit Application, the Land Disturbance Permit Application and the zoning clearance needed to apply for a Berkeley County stormwater permit.
Hanahan permit fees
The City’s Building Permit Fees sheet charges $30 for issuing the permit, plus a fee based on the total valuation:
| Valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1,000 or less | $15 |
| $1,001–$50,000 | $15 for the first $1,000, plus $5 per extra $1,000 |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $260 for the first $50,000, plus $4 per extra $1,000 |
| $100,001–$500,000 | $460 for the first $100,000, plus $3 per extra $1,000 |
| $500,001 and up | $1,660 for the first $500,000, plus $2 per extra $1,000 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →A $300,000 job, for example, carries a valuation fee of $460 plus 200 × $3, or $1,060, on top of the $30 issuing fee. When the valuation is over $1,000 and plans are required, a plan-checking fee of half the building permit fee is paid when the plans are submitted.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Temporary electric pole | $10 |
| Moving a building | $100 |
| Demolition up to 100,000 cu ft | $50 |
| Demolition over 100,000 cu ft | $0.50 per 1,000 cu ft |
| Work started before the permit | Fees doubled |
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits
Building & Codes issues each trade permit, and each has its own fee sheet with the same $30 issuing fee:
| Permit | Fee on top of the $30 issuing fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical service, new or upgraded | $0.20 per amp |
| Electrical add-on or extra wiring | $10 minimum |
| Plumbing | $2.50 per fixture, floor drain or trap; $5 per house sewer; $2.50 per water heater |
| Heating, air conditioning and ductwork | $10 for the first $1,000 of installation value, plus $2 per extra $1,000 |
| Repairs or additions to an existing HVAC system | $5 plus $2 per $1,000 |
| Gas piping | $5 for 1–4 outlets, plus $1 per extra outlet |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →An extra electrical inspection costs $40 once the property has been inspected twice and problems remain; mechanical and gas re-inspections cost $5.
How to get a permit in Hanahan
Confirm the property is inside Hanahan city limits and whether the job is on the City’s exempt or zoning-only list.
The contractor needs an SC LLR licence and a City of Hanahan business license, and the City wants a copy of the contract.
New construction needs a stormwater plan review from Berkeley County Engineering (843-719-4195) using the City’s zoning clearance, and lots in a flood zone go through floodplain review.
Submit the permit application and plans online and pay the plan-checking fee when plans are required.
The permit is issued once the City has checked the licences and the fees are paid.
The general contractor books them in GovPossible or by phone.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Hanahan
Schedule inspections in GovPossible or by calling Building & Codes at 843-576-5259 before 3:00 p.m. for the next business day; later calls go on the following day’s list. The head contractor must request every inspection on the job, the work must be ready when requested, and a heavy workload can push a visit back a day.
For a new house on a slab, the City’s required inspection list runs: temporary power pole, plumbing slab, building slab, sheathing and exterior strapping, brick ties where used, framing and rough-in, insulation, meter release and the certificate of occupancy. Homes on a curtain wall add footing, curtain wall or bond beam and floor system inspections. The general contractor calls in all trade rough-ins together, and by then the shingles, house wrap, flashed windows, HVAC equipment and gas vents must be in place, with window labels left on until the building final.
Local Hanahan details that matter
Flooding: Turkey Creek, the Goose Creek and the Cooper River are the sources of most flood losses in the City. Building & Codes holds the flood maps and elevation certificates, sets the rules for building in a Special Flood Hazard Area and makes substantial damage determinations. Hanahan takes part in the Community Rating System, which can cut flood insurance premiums by 5% to 40%.
Stormwater: Hanahan runs its stormwater program jointly with Berkeley County, so stormwater plan review for new construction is done by Berkeley County Engineering.
Trees: removal permits are free and cover trees of 8 in diameter or more at breast height. Pines, sweet gums, wax myrtles, crepe myrtles, Bradford pears and water oaks are not protected, but still need an application.
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 →Hanahan permit search and official resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Hanahan permits
- Hanahan work exempt from permits (2026)
- Hanahan inspection requests
- Hanahan Building & Codes forms and fee schedules
- Hanahan building permit fees
- Hanahan required residential inspections
- Hanahan floodplain management
- Hanahan tree permits
Hanahan permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Hanahan?
The City of Hanahan Building & Codes Department (843-576-5259) for property inside city limits. Unincorporated areas are permitted by Berkeley County.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit in Hanahan?
A $30 issuing fee plus a valuation fee: $460 plus $3 per $1,000 above $100,000 for mid-size jobs, or $1,060 for a $300,000 project. Plan checking adds half the building permit fee when plans are required.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in Hanahan?
Not a building permit for a one-story detached shed up to 200 sq ft or a fence up to 7 ft, but both need a zoning permit.
Should a homeowner pull the permit for a contractor?
No. The City warns homeowners not to, because the contractor may not be properly licensed, bonded or willing to take responsibility for the work.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Through GovPossible or by calling 843-576-5259 before 3:00 p.m. for the next business day. The head contractor makes the request.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
Yes, for any tree 8 in or more in diameter at breast height. The application is free.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hanahan permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.