Lee County’s Planning and Zoning Department issues building permits for construction across the county, and applications go through the County’s Evolve online portal. Fees follow a valuation table set by County ordinance, with a new home valued at $48 per heated square foot, and the County allows up to five days for residential plan review.
What requires a building permit in Lee County?
The County’s permit information sheet says permits are issued for every item that applies to a job: building, electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work, alterations, renovations, roofing and re-roofing, additions, and manufactured or mobile homes. The fee ordinance covers the same list.
Applied for in Evolve
- Residential construction
- Commercial construction
- Electrical, mechanical, gas and plumbing
- Demolition
- Fire systems
- Signs
Also handled by Planning and Zoning
- Site plan review for proposed construction
- Floodplain regulation
- Zoning verification
- Plat review and stamping
- Rezoning, text amendment, special exception and variance applications
Mobile homes may be placed only as single-family dwellings. Starting work before the permit is issued brings a fine of double the total permit cost.
Who handles permitting in Lee County?
Planning and Zoning runs planning, permitting and code enforcement for the County and says it issues building permits for all construction in the county. The County uses a third-party inspection company for all inspections other than fire marshal inspections, and the department page lists a certified building official as the County’s plan reviewer and inspector.
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Get a free quote →| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | 3rd floor of the Courthouse, Room 302, 123 S. Main Street, Bishopville, SC 29010 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 309, Bishopville, SC 29010 |
| Phone | 803-483-3195 (portal help line); 803-484-5341 ext. 3196 (department page) |
| Inspection line | 803-483-3196 |
| Fax | 803-484-5735 |
| Online portal | Evolve, Lee County Online Services |
Towns in Lee County
- Bishopville (city): the City’s Planning & Zoning page sends planning and zoning questions to the Lee County Planning & Zoning Office, which is also where building permits are issued.
- Lynchburg (town): the town has no published permit office of its own, so the County’s statement that it permits all construction in the county is the only official guidance; ask the County before filing for an in-town address.
Applying in the Evolve portal
An Evolve account is needed before you can file. Create one with Create Account, and do not open a second account if you already have one; returning users log in with a one-time PIN sent by email or text. From the account you can apply, pay, follow your permits under My Permits and request or cancel inspections.
The Apply for Permit screen walks through choosing the permit type, ticking off the items listed under Before You Begin, finding the address (or entering a location description and tax map parcel number when no address comes up), describing the work, listing subcontractors and contacts, uploading plans and forms, and signing electronically.
- Owner-builders: an owner building a home must file a notice with the Clerk of Court in the Courthouse before applying.
- Someone filing for you: a contractor or owner who wants another person to obtain permits must supply a written, notarized affidavit naming who may sign.
- Commercial jobs: the permit is taken out by a South Carolina licensed general contractor where one is required, unless an exemption applies.
Lee County building permit fees
Fees are set by County Ordinance No. 8-06 and are based on the value of the work. The County values homes by area: $48 per square foot of heated space for homes under 2,500 sq ft and $63 per square foot above 2,500 sq ft, $21 per square foot of unheated space and $15 per square foot for sheds.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0–$1,000 | $25, plus $40 for an electrical inspection if needed |
| $1,001–$50,000 | $50 for the first $10,000, plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $250 for the first $50,000, plus $4 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001–$500,000 | $450 for the first $100,000, plus $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $500,000 | $1,650 for the first $500,000, plus $2 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Plan review, where required | Half of the permit fee, paid when plans are submitted |
| Manufactured or mobile home | $100 |
| Decal-only permit | $30 |
For example, a 2,000 sq ft home with no unheated space is valued at $96,000, giving a permit fee of $434 ($250 plus 46 × $4) and a plan review fee of $217.
The County’s separate fee sheet charges $25 for the first re-inspection caused by deficient work, $50 for the second and $100 for the third or later, plus a $25 inspection fee for demolition. Copies of files and ordinances cost $1 per page.
What to submit
Every permit starts with a deed plat approved by Planning (Room 302), an E911 address from the Courthouse (Room 301) and, where the lot has no existing system, a septic or sewer permit; the County’s sheet points to the state environmental health office in Bishopville or Sumter for that.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →New home or addition
- 911 address, tax map number and recorded plat
- One electronic copy of plans: foundation, floor plans, elevations, sections and details, and an electrical plan
- Contractor’s South Carolina residential builder or general contractor licence, with company contact details
- Subcontractor list with licence numbers
- Residential energy code compliance check (REScheck)
- Site plan with easements, lot dimensions, setbacks, house location and flood zone
- Project-specific Manual J and D HVAC design
- Anchor strap schedule if ½ in. anchor bolts are not used, garage wing-wall bracing and garage-to-house separation details
Commercial or industrial
- Three sets of zoning site plans, sealed by a South Carolina architect or engineer, showing setbacks, parking, fire hydrants within 500 feet, signs and landscaping
- Three sets of building plans plus one electronic copy, bound, with a full code summary
- Engineer’s certification letter for pre-engineered buildings
- State sediment and erosion control and NPDES stormwater permits
- Third-party soil compaction letter
- Commercial energy code compliance with Manual J and D
- SCDOT encroachment permit and the total cost of the job
An older County information sheet still asks for 2 paper sets of drawings for homes, garages and storage buildings, so have paper copies ready if the office requests them. Buildings with a fire alarm or sprinkler system also need plans sent to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The County allows up to five days for residential plan review and permit issuance and up to ten days for commercial. Applicants sign a Plan Review Acknowledgement: changes after review cost another plan review fee and add two weeks for a home or 20 working days for a small commercial job, and unreviewed structural changes in the field lead to an immediate stop work order.
Rather not deal with the Lee County building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a Lee County building permit
Have Planning approve the deed plat in Room 302 and request the E911 address in Room 301.
For a lot without an existing system, obtain the septic or sewer permit before applying.
If you are building your own home, file the notice with the Clerk of Court first.
Choose the permit type, list subcontractors and upload the plans and checklist items.
Half of the permit fee is due at submittal; expect up to five days for a home and ten for commercial work.
Request each inspection by 3 p.m. the day before, through Evolve or 803-483-3196.
Inspections in Lee County
Inspections run Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. Request one through Evolve or by calling 803-483-3196 by 3 p.m. at least one day ahead. The County’s list for new buildings and additions:
- Temporary saw pole
- Footing, before the foundation is poured
- Open floor before sheathing on a crawl space, or plumbing in the slab
- Building slab inspection on a slab home
- Rough-in, with framing, electrical, HVAC and plumbing in place, supply lines pressure tested and drain lines tested with a 10-foot head of water; house wrap must be on, but no exterior finishes yet
- Temporary power, with every device set or guarded
- Final, with the house ready to move into and blower door and duct blaster test results for new homes
Local details
Floodplain: Planning and Zoning regulates floodplain areas, and the residential site plan must show the flood zone where one applies.
Zoning: the commercial checklist asks you to check the zoning district’s setbacks and its rules for landscaping, parking, lighting and signs before the site plan is drawn.
Fire marshal: Lee County Fire and Rescue, at 119 Deschamps Street in Bishopville (803-484-5274), has a Chief Officer whose duties include fire marshal work.
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
Lee County permit forms and official resources
- Lee County Planning and Zoning
- Lee County Evolve permit portal
- Building permits: required information
- Residential plan review requirements
- Commercial/industrial plan review and zoning requirements
- Permit fees (Ordinance No. 8-06)
- Demolition and re-inspection fees
- Plan Review Acknowledgement
- Required inspections for new structures and additions
- SC Contractor’s Licensing Board
- SC Building Codes Council
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Lee County permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Bishopville and Lee County?
Lee County Planning and Zoning, in Room 302 of the Courthouse. The City of Bishopville refers planning and zoning questions to that office.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Lee County?
The house is valued at $48 per heated square foot under 2,500 sq ft, and the fee comes from the valuation table. A 2,000 sq ft home works out to a $434 permit fee plus $217 for plan review.
How long does plan review take?
Up to five days for residential plan review and permit issuance, and up to ten days for commercial projects.
Can I pull my own permit as a homeowner?
Yes, as an owner-builder, after filing a notice with the Clerk of Court in the Courthouse.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Through Evolve or by calling 803-483-3196 by 3 p.m. at least one day ahead; inspections run on weekdays.
What does a mobile home permit cost?
$100, or $30 for a decal-only permit.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lee County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.