The McCormick County Building Department at 610 South Mine Street issues and inspects permits for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, demolitions and manufactured homes, and building permits can be applied for online through the County’s MyGov portal. A County zoning permit comes first, and in the Town of McCormick the Town signs off before the County will issue.
What requires a permit in McCormick County?
The County’s zoning ordinance requires a building permit for every structure built, assembled or placed on a site, and the Building Department tracks permits for new construction, alterations, additions, repairs, demolitions and manufactured homes. Permits must be in hand before any project starts.
Permit types on the County application
- Residential and residential addition
- Commercial and commercial addition
- Electrical, mechanical and plumbing
- Demolition
- Mobile home, and mobile home name change
Zoning permit
- Needed before any building permit is issued
- Needed before a building is put up or occupied, a use starts or changes, or related grading or excavation begins
- Some projects that need no building permit still need a zoning permit
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in McCormick County?
The Building Department issues and inspects building and trade permits; Ryan Branyon is the Building Official. Zoning permits come from the County Zoning Officer in the Planning & Zoning department in the same building. The zoning ordinance applies to the unincorporated county.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | 610 South Mine Street, McCormick, SC 29835 |
| Phone | 864-852-2231 (the application form also lists 864-852-2433) |
| Fax | 864-852-2783 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; no permits are issued after 4:00 p.m. |
| Online | MyGov public portal: apply for building permits and track requests |
Towns in McCormick County
- McCormick (town): the Town reviews zoning, setbacks and business licences on its Building Permit Coordination Form, then authorizes you to go to the County for the building permit. The form states that a County permit is needed before any work. It still lists the County department at 362 Airport Road; the County’s own site gives 610 South Mine Street.
- Parksville and Plum Branch (towns): neither town publishes permit information, and the County’s pages do not say how in-town permits are handled; ask the County Building Department before filing.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →What to submit with a County application
- A site plan
- Two sets of building plans, drawn to scale, showing the lot from a current plat, existing buildings, the new building or alteration, signs and parking
- The plan review sheet
- Septic approval
- A copy of the state contractor’s licence for the builder and every subcontractor
- The tax map number, zoning district, power company and valuation of the work; if the owner has held the property for less than a year, the previous owner’s name
Every building permit needs a licensed builder, except a home built by its owner as owner-builder. One copy of the plans is returned marked approved or disapproved by the Zoning Officer and the County keeps the other.
Under the zoning ordinance, County Council sets the fee schedule for building and zoning permits, it is posted in the Zoning Officer’s office, and no application is acted on until its fees are paid.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to apply for a McCormick County building permit
Complete the Town’s coordination form with your plat or plans and town business licences for you and your subcontractors.
The Zoning Officer checks the use, setbacks and plans before any building permit.
Collect the septic approval and copies of every contractor’s state licence.
Use the MyGov portal or bring the application to 610 South Mine Street before 4:00 p.m.
A permit lapses if work does not start within six months or stops for a year.
Give 24 hours’ notice for each inspection through to the certificate of occupancy.
Inspections in McCormick County
Schedule inspections with the Building Department at least 24 hours in advance (864-852-2231). The zoning ordinance requires at least one inspection before a certificate of occupancy is issued, carried out by County staff or a firm under contract to the County, to check the building against the ordinance and the conditions of the permit.
Rather not deal with the McCormick County building department?
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
McCormick County permit forms and official resources
- McCormick County Building Department
- McCormick County MyGov permit portal
- County Building Permit Application
- McCormick County Planning & Zoning
- McCormick County Zoning Ordinance
- Town of McCormick Building Permit Coordination Form
- SC Contractor’s Licensing Board
- SC Building Codes Council
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →McCormick County permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in McCormick County, SC?
The McCormick County Building Department at 610 South Mine Street, phone 864-852-2231.
Can I apply online?
Yes. The County links to a MyGov public portal for building permit applications.
I live in the Town of McCormick. Where do I start?
With the Town’s Building Permit Coordination Form. Once the Town signs it, take it to the County for the building permit.
Do I need a zoning permit as well?
Yes. The County will not issue a building permit until the Zoning Officer has issued a zoning permit.
Can a homeowner build without a contractor?
Yes, for residential construction the owner builds personally; every other building permit needs a licensed builder.
How much notice do inspections need?
24 hours.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about McCormick County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.