Kershaw County Planning & Zoning administers building permits and zoning together, with separate published applications for docks, pools, demolition and structure moving — and an explicit warning that the list is not comprehensive.
This Kershaw County building permit guide covers the separate dock permit for Lake Wateree frontage, the farm structure affidavit, the flood hazard area regulations, the online application route, and the county's own notice about the coming code change.
Scope: unincorporated Kershaw County. Camden, Elgin and Bethune are among the municipalities that permit their own work.
Kershaw is publicly flagging the code change. The county publishes the state notice of intent to adopt the 2024 edition of the building codes, and the implementation date is 1 January 2027.
What requires a permit in Kershaw County?
Building permits and inspections in Kershaw County are administered through Planning & Zoning, with an online route to apply for building permits and schedule inspections. That single-department structure is worth noting: in Kershaw the zoning and building functions sit together rather than in separate offices, which removes one of the handoffs that slows applications elsewhere.
The published application set tells you what this county actually deals with. Alongside the building permit route there is a Zoning Permit Application, a Swimming Pool Permit Application, a Dock Permit Application, an Application for Building Demolition Permit, an Application to Move Structure Other than Manufactured Home, and an Affidavit of Construction of a Farm Structure.
The county is careful to note that this is not a comprehensive list of all documents required for a specific permit and asks that you contact staff with further questions. Take that at face value — the published forms are the common cases, not the complete requirement for any particular project.
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and renovations
- Docks, which have their own permit application
- Swimming pools, which have their own permit application
- Building demolition
- Moving a structure other than a manufactured home
- Development on lots within a flood hazard area
- Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, and cosmetic finishes
- Certain farm structures, subject to the county's affidavit of construction
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or a regulated system
- Work inside Camden, Elgin, or Bethune where those municipalities permit
South Carolina enforces the South Carolina Building Codes adopted by the Building Codes Council under S.C. Code Ann. § 6-9-50; the 2021 codes are in force, and the 2024 codes take effect for every county and municipality on 1 January 2027 (the energy code stays the 2009 IECC). The South Carolina Building Codes
Kershaw County building department: who handles permitting
The dock permit application is the one that marks this county out. Kershaw fronts Lake Wateree, and shoreline structures there need their own county permit on top of anything else the building department requires. Lake Wateree is a Duke Energy reservoir rather than a state coastal critical area — the coastal rules that govern the Lowcountry do not apply — but Duke Energy Lake Services issues its own shoreline permit through its Lake Access Permit System, and its checklist asks for the county or local building permit.
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Get a free quote →The Affidavit of Construction of a Farm Structure reflects a genuine agricultural exemption. Farm buildings occupy an unusual position in most building codes, and Kershaw's approach is to document the claim by affidavit rather than leave it to argument at inspection. If you are building agriculturally, that affidavit is the mechanism — not an assumption that farm work is unregulated.
Kershaw also publishes its Zoning and Land Development Regulations for permitting lots within a flood hazard area as a distinct reference. On a flood-prone parcel that document, rather than the general permit guidance, is what governs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Kershaw County Planning & Zoning, 515 Walnut Street, Room 160, Camden, SC 29020 · 803-425-7233 |
| Structure | Building permits and zoning administered together |
| Online | Apply for building permits and schedule inspections |
| Dock permits | Separate application, relevant on Lake Wateree frontage |
| Farm structures | Affidavit of construction route |
| Flood hazard lots | Governed by the zoning and land development regulations |
| Published forms | Not a comprehensive list — contact staff |
| Code change | County has published the notice on the 2024 editions |
📘|Kershaw is publicly flagging the code change. The county publishes the state notice of intent to adopt the 2024 edition of the building codes, and it matters: the 2024 editions take effect on 1 January 2027, and a design started now for a permit filed later may need to meet the newer set.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Kershaw County authorized 379 new privately owned housing units, 326 of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Kershaw County permits: record types and what each covers
Kershaw County publishes a distinct application for each of the following, which makes the record set easy to scope:
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Full plan review against the adopted South Carolina Residential Code, plus zoning | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, mechanical, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; the property maintenance and existing-building provisions apply only where locally adopted by ordinance | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, recover, and structural deck repair | Dry-in and deck inspection; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount arrays, with or without battery storage | Electrical review led, with structural review of the attachment | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted storage added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and rewiring | Trade review; filed by a licensed residential electrician or a mechanical contractor with the Electrical subclassification | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and water heater replacement | Trade review; filed by a licensed residential plumber or a mechanical contractor with Plumbing | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts, new ductwork, and refrigeration | Trade review; filed by a licensed residential HVAC installer or a mechanical contractor with Air Conditioning or Packaged Equipment | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks, screened porches, and structural rebuilds | Structural review of footings, ledger attachment, and guards | Valuation or flat |
| Swimming pool | In-ground and above-ground pools, including residential pools | Barrier, bonding, and electrical review; residential pool work over $10,000 requires a Swimming Pools subclassification or a Residential Builder licence | Valuation or flat |
| Manufactured home set-up | Placing or re-siting a manufactured home | Zoning, floodplain, and anchoring review; filed by an LLR-licensed contractor | Flat or per-unit |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a dwelling or accessory structure | Utility disconnect confirmation and site restoration check | Flat |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New commercial construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings | Concurrent review against the adopted South Carolina Building Code, fire, and zoning | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement / upfit | Interior fit-out of an existing tenant space | Building, trade, and life-safety review; accessibility attaches on change of use | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building or space to a different use group | Occupancy classification, egress, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Commercial electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review under a mechanical contractor holding Electrical | Per-permit or valuation |
| Commercial plumbing | Process piping, fixtures, backflow, and grease waste | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-off where applicable | Per-fixture or valuation |
| Commercial mechanical | Rooftop units, kitchen exhaust and hood systems, and refrigeration | Trade review; kitchen exhaust and hood systems sit under Packaged Equipment | Per-unit or valuation |
| Commercial reroof | Roof covering replacement on a commercial structure | Deck, dry-in, and attachment inspection | Valuation or squares |
| Signage | Wall, ground, and illuminated signs | Zoning review for size and placement, plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Land disturbance | Clearing, grading, and stormwater-triggering site work | Erosion and sediment control review, separate from the building permit | Acreage-based |
| Commercial demolition | Full or partial demolition of a commercial structure | Utility disconnect, asbestos notification, and site restoration | Flat or valuation |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- Trade records filed separately, under a residential electrician, plumber or HVAC licence from the Residential Builders Commission (or a Chapter 11 mechanical licence)
- Residential builder licence required above the statutory threshold; residential specialty above a much lower one
- Septic properties need SCDES approval before the county can issue
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- Licence group caps the value of a single bid or job, separately from the permit
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Kershaw County
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Building permit | New construction, additions, and renovations |
| Zoning permit | Administered by the same department |
| Dock permit | For shoreline structures, notably on Lake Wateree |
| Swimming pool permit | Its own published application |
| Building demolition permit | Its own published application |
| Structure moving permit | For structures other than manufactured homes |
| Farm structure affidavit | Documenting an agricultural construction claim |
Solar permits in Kershaw County
Solar in Kershaw County is filed through the county's online permitting route. Where the lot sits within a flood hazard area, the county's dedicated zoning and land development regulations for such lots govern rather than the general guidance. Confirm which licences your installer actually holds before the application is filed: on commercial work a rooftop array can need the Miscellaneous Metals, Roofing or Building and Electrical subclassifications, while on homes the Residential Builders Commission registers solar installers and a residential electrician does the wiring.
Rather not deal with the Kershaw County building department?
Get a free quote →Roofing permits in Kershaw County
A reroof in Kershaw County is filed through the county's online permitting route. Remember the county's caution that its published document list is not comprehensive for any specific permit. Roofing is its own general contractor subclassification in South Carolina, and it absorbed the former General Roofing and Specialty Roofing classifications, so an older pocket card can read differently from the current licence record — check the LLR verification lookup rather than the card alone.
Solar and roofing work follow statewide licensing rules, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. Solar and roofing rules in South Carolina
Kershaw County permit cost
Kershaw County permit fees follow the county schedule and scale with the type and valuation of the work, with trade permits charged as their own records. Applications and inspection scheduling both run online through Planning & Zoning.
Budget the separate applications where they apply — a dock permit, a swimming pool permit and a demolition permit are each their own record with their own fee. Confirm current amounts against the county before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Per county fee schedule, by type and valuation |
| Dock permit | Its own application and fee |
| Swimming pool permit | Its own application and fee |
| Demolition permit | Its own application and fee |
| Trade permits | Electrical, plumbing, mechanical charged separately |
| Septic properties | SCDES approval required before the county can issue |
Want a precise number for a specific Kershaw County project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Kershaw County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit and a South Carolina licensed contractor. Four Kershaw specifics:
Dock work is its own permit
Shoreline structures need a dock permit application separately from any building permit. On Lake Wateree, expect the reservoir manager's approval alongside the county's.
Farm structures go by affidavit
The Affidavit of Construction of a Farm Structure is the documented route for an agricultural claim. It is a filing, not an assumption of exemption.
Flood hazard lots have their own rules
The county publishes zoning and land development regulations specifically for permitting lots within a flood hazard area. On a flood-prone parcel, that governs.
Ask before assembling
The county states its published document list is not comprehensive for any specific permit and asks applicants to contact staff. Do that before building the package.
South Carolina licenses contractors through two boards in the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: the Contractor’s Licensing Board (general and mechanical work over $10,000) and the Residential Builders Commission (residential builders over $5,000; residential electricians, plumbers, HVAC and other specialty work over $500). Contractor licensing in South Carolina
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Kershaw County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Kershaw County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Camden, Elgin and Bethune are among the municipalities in Kershaw County. Planning & Zoning covers the unincorporated county.
Where the lot sits within a flood hazard area, the county's zoning and land development regulations for those lots govern the permitting requirements.
Building, zoning, dock, pool, demolition and structure-moving are all separate applications. Scope them together rather than discovering them one at a time.
The county states its published list is not comprehensive for any specific permit. A call ahead of assembly is cheaper than a rejection after it.
Building permit applications and inspection scheduling both run online through Planning & Zoning.
Keep the permit and approved plans on site through to Certificate of Occupancy, and note that the 2024 codes arrive on 1 January 2027.
Inspections in Kershaw County
Inspections are scheduled online through the same Planning & Zoning route used to apply for the permit. Typical checkpoints follow the adopted code sequence through footing and foundation, trade rough-ins, framing, insulation and final.
Shoreline and agricultural work sit outside the ordinary inspection sequence. A dock permit and a farm structure affidavit each have their own path, and neither is resolved by the standard residential inspection set. Where your project involves either, establish the sequence with staff at the outset.
Kershaw has published the state notice of intent to adopt the 2024 edition of the building codes. The implementation date is 1 January 2027. Work does not get re-reviewed against a code that arrived mid-project. Where a completed building permit application was approved before the implementation date, the work may be completed and inspected under the code in effect when the original permit was issued. The date that matters is the approval of a complete application — an incomplete one sitting in the queue on 31 December 2026 does not hold the old code.
Keep the permit and approved plans on site throughout, and confirm the full document requirement with staff rather than from the published list alone.
Kershaw County permit search and official resources
Kershaw County publishes its permit applications, flood hazard regulations and code notices through Planning & Zoning.
- Kershaw County building permits and inspections
- SC LLR licence verification
- SC Building Codes Council
- SCDES septic and onsite wastewater
- Richland County Building Permit information
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Kershaw County, SC?
Kershaw County Planning & Zoning administers building permits and inspections, with an online route to apply and to schedule inspections. Building and zoning functions sit in the same department.
What applications does Kershaw County publish?
A zoning permit application, swimming pool permit application, dock permit application, application for building demolition permit, application to move a structure other than a manufactured home, and an affidavit of construction of a farm structure.
Is that the full list of what I need?
No, and the county says so. It states this is not a comprehensive list of all documents required for a specific permit and asks that you contact staff with further questions.
Do I need a dock permit?
For shoreline structures, yes — Kershaw County publishes a dock permit application separately from the building permit. On Lake Wateree, expect the reservoir manager's approval alongside the county's.
Are docks on Lake Wateree covered by coastal rules?
No. South Carolina's coastal critical area regime covers the eight coastal counties. Lake Wateree is a utility-managed reservoir, so shoreline approval comes from the lake manager rather than the state coastal programme.
How are farm structures handled?
Through the county's Affidavit of Construction of a Farm Structure. It is a documented filing rather than an assumption that agricultural work is unregulated.
What if my lot is in a flood hazard area?
The county publishes zoning and land development regulations specifically for permitting lots within a flood hazard area, and those govern the requirements for such parcels.
Can I apply online?
Yes. Kershaw County provides an online route to apply for building permits and to schedule inspections.
Is Kershaw County adopting the 2024 codes?
The county has published the state notice of intent to adopt the 2024 edition of the building codes. The SC Building Codes Council set the implementation date for every jurisdiction as 1 January 2027.
Should I design to the 2021 or 2024 codes?
Design to the 2021 codes for a permit pulled now, and to the 2024 codes for anything that will be applied for after 1 January 2027. Where a completed application was approved before the implementation date, the work may be completed under the code in force when the permit issued.
Do I need a state contractor licence?
Yes, above the statutory thresholds — greater than $10,000 for general and mechanical construction, with separate residential building and residential specialty thresholds.
Which building code does Kershaw County enforce?
The South Carolina Building Codes as adopted with state modifications by the SC Building Codes Council. The 2021 editions apply now, with the 2024 editions implemented from 1 January 2027.
Simplify Kershaw County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Kershaw's forms are clear but explicitly incomplete. The value is in scoping every application a project needs before assembling any of them.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21+ years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Kershaw County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Full application set scoped — building, zoning, dock, pool or demolition identified together rather than sequentially.
- Flood position established — the flood hazard area regulations consulted where the lot falls within one.
- Staff consulted first — the county's own advice followed, since its published list is not comprehensive.
- Complete oversight — every Kershaw permit and inspection tracked across your jobs in one place.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service in South Carolina. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kershaw County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.