Marlboro County, South Carolina Building Permit Guide

Marlboro County’s building codes office in the courthouse complex in Bennettsville issues building permits for the unincorporated county and the towns of Blenheim, Tatum and Clio; the City of Bennettsville permits its own work. Applications are filed online, and any construction, addition or renovation valued above $2,000, or needing an inspection, requires a permit.

What requires a permit in Marlboro County?

The County requires a building permit for any construction, addition or renovation valued at more than $2,000, and for smaller jobs that need an inspection. The County lists these examples:

Who handles permitting in Marlboro County?

The County’s building codes office shares an office complex in the courthouse with the Tax Assessor and handles building, planning and zoning permits through a permit clerk. Its jurisdiction is set out on the County’s permit page.

Who permits each town

• Blenheim, Clio and Tatum (towns) and all unincorporated land: Marlboro County.
• Bennettsville (city): the City’s Planning and Zoning Department reviews construction plans and permits and inspects development inside city limits. Manager of Planning and Zoning: 843-479-9001 ext. 304. The City takes permit applications online and accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
• McColl (town): the County’s permit page does not list McColl in its jurisdiction, and the town’s website publishes no permit information; ask McColl Town Hall or the County permit clerk which office covers the address.

What to have ready for the application

• The property address; land that has never had an address needs one from the County first (ext. 20).
• The tax map number, from the Tax Assessor (ext. 12) in the same courthouse office complex.
• A septic tank permit from the state health department, where the lot uses septic.
• The power company’s name. For Progress Energy service, the customer must get a premise number by calling 1-800-452-2777.
• For new construction or additions: two sets of sealed plans by a registered design professional, and a plot plan marking where the building will go (available from the Clerk of Court Office, 843-479-5613).

After plan review, one set of approved plans comes back to be kept on site during construction. A digital copy of the plans can be emailed to the County building office at dhamilton@marlborocounty.sc.gov.

Fees are charged on the project’s valuation, under a fee schedule the County adopted in June 2017.

How to apply for a Marlboro County building permit

Inspections in Marlboro County

Call at least 24 hours ahead for every inspection, and post the permit on site. Footing, foundation, framing, plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical work must be inspected before it is covered or before fixtures and appliances go in; the Building Official can order covered or non-compliant work torn out. The County’s published inspection sequence for non-residential buildings:

• Footings, after digging and before concrete, with steel and forms in place; 12 inches or more of fill needs a soil compaction report
• Foundation and floor, before subflooring
• Framing, once the roof, fire-stopping, draft-stopping and bracing are in; block walls before they are filled
• Building sewer and rough-in plumbing tests, done before the slab is poured where plumbing runs underneath
• Electrical rough-in
• Insulation
• Gas, where there is any
• Mechanical
• Final, before the building is occupied or used

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

Marlboro County permit links and official resources

• Marlboro County building permits
• Marlboro County required inspections
• Residential Building Permit application (online)
• Commercial Building Permit application (online)
• Marlboro County staff directory
• City of Bennettsville Planning & Zoning
• City of Bennettsville applications and forms

Marlboro County permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Marlboro County, SC?

The County’s building codes office, for unincorporated areas and the towns of Blenheim, Tatum and Clio. The City of Bennettsville runs its own permitting.

Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Marlboro County?

Yes. Roof replacement is one of the County’s listed examples, along with doors and windows, decks, structural repairs and moving walls.

Is there a dollar threshold?

Work valued above $2,000 needs a permit, as does any smaller job that requires an inspection.

How are permit fees worked out?

On the valuation of the work, using the schedule the County adopted in June 2017.

How much notice do inspections need?

At least 24 hours.

What number do I call about a permit?

843-479-5602 ext. 10, or ext. 201 for the permit clerk.

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