Marion County, South Carolina Building Permit Guide

Outside the cities of Marion and Mullins, building permits in Marion County come from the County’s Building & Inspections Department at 2523 East Highway 76 in Marion (843-423-8238). Any residential or commercial building project worth more than $1,000 or covering more than 200 sq ft needs a permit, and the office takes only cash or check.

What requires a permit in Marion County?

The County’s rule is simple: any project on a residential or commercial building valued above $1,000 or larger than 200 sq ft needs a permit. The office publishes separate applications for each kind of work.

Who handles permitting in Marion County?

The Marion County Building Inspections office enforces the building codes and County ordinances, reviews plans for new buildings, additions and remodels, inspects the work, enforces the National Flood Insurance Program and issues business licences. Wayne Fox is the Building Official.

Cities and towns in Marion County

• Marion (city): runs its own Building Department, which reviews plans and issues all permits in city limits; its Planning & Zoning staff are usually the first contact. Phone 843-423-5961, PO Box 1190, Marion, SC 29571.
• Mullins (city): has its own Building Department at 151 East Front Street (843-464-9583, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) with its own building, trades, sign, fence, solar and service pole applications. Separate permits are needed there for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, and contractors need a City of Mullins business licence.
• Nichols and Sellers (towns): neither publishes a permit office. The County’s 2025 construction permit application covers addresses in these towns and requires contractors to show an active town business licence before the County issues the permit.

The same County form also names Mullins in that business licence rule, while the City of Mullins publishes its own permit forms, so a Mullins job should start with the City’s Building Department.

County forms and who may sign

• Construction Permit Application (2025): asks whether the site is in a flood zone and which zone. An elevation certificate may be required before a permit is issued in a flood zone.
• Contract or affidavit: a contractor’s application is not considered without a copy of the contract signed by the homeowner. A homeowner doing the work must sign an affidavit and record it with the Clerk of Court, and the application is not considered without it.
• Contractor’s License Authorization Form: a state licence holder can name employees or a spouse who may pull permits on the licence. The form is notarized and kept on file.
• Mobile home forms: a completion certificate and an underpinning notice. If the underpinning is not finished within 30 days, the Building Official will have the power disconnected.

Each contractor and subcontractor must keep a current Marion County business licence. If an unlicensed contractor is found on site, the work is stopped, a fine may follow and the permit can be placed on hold.

Fees and payment

The County does not post its building permit fee schedule online; staff fill in the permit fee on the application from the project cost and square footage you enter. Payment is by cash or check only.

What to bring for a construction permit

• A zoning compliance permit
• A receipt showing the water or sewer tap has been paid, where one applies
• Two sets of plans, where plans are required
• The completed Construction Permit Application
• For contractors: South Carolina contractor’s licence and ID card, a Marion County business licence and the contract signed by contractor and owner
• For homeowners: the affidavit recorded with the Clerk of Court

Plans must be drawn by a licensed architect or registered engineer for any assembly, educational, institutional or hazardous occupancy, and for commercial buildings over 5,000 sq ft or in the 130 mph wind zone. Reviewed plans carry the Building Official’s signature and must stay on the job site, protected from the weather. Inspections are made only from approved drawings, and changes need the Building Official’s approval first.

How to apply for a Marion County building permit

Inspections in Marion County

It is the permit holder’s job to call for each inspection at the right stage (843-423-8238). Work covered before it is inspected may have to be uncovered. The Building Official notes violations, which must be corrected before the next phase starts.

• Building: foundation, pier and curtain wall, floor slab and floor framing, exterior wall before covering, wall ties for brick veneer, framing once the roof, bracing, fire blocking and concealed wiring, pipes and ducts are in, and final.
• Electrical: underground before backfill, rough-in before wall or ceiling coverings, final.
• Plumbing: underground before backfill, rough-in once drain, waste and vent piping is complete, final.
• Mechanical: underground duct and fuel piping, rough-in, final.
• Gas: rough piping before it is covered, final piping with a pressure test, and final.

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

Marion County permit forms and official resources

• Marion County Building Permit & Business Licenses
• County Construction Permit Application (2025)
• County Electrical Permit Application
• County Mechanical Permit Application
• County Plumbing Permit Application
• Contractor’s License Authorization Form
• Marion County Flood Zone Ordinance
• County planning and zoning fee schedule
• City of Marion Building Department
• City of Marion Planning & Zoning
• City of Mullins Building Department

Marion County permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Marion County, SC?

The County Building & Inspections Department for unincorporated areas, Nichols and Sellers. The cities of Marion and Mullins each have their own building department.

When do I need a building permit?

For any work on a residential or commercial building worth more than $1,000 or covering more than 200 sq ft.

Can a homeowner pull a permit?

Yes. A homeowner doing the work signs an affidavit and records it with the Clerk of Court before the County will consider the application.

How do I pay for a County permit?

Cash or check only, with checks payable to Marion County.

Do contractors need a County business licence?

Yes. Every contractor and subcontractor needs a current Marion County business licence, and work by an unlicensed contractor will be stopped.

What is the phone number for Marion County building permits?

843-423-8238 for the Building Official, or 843-423-3904 for the permit and business licence office.

Simplify Marion County 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 Marion County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.