The Newberry County Building Department at 1512 Martin Street permits and inspects construction in the unincorporated county, and every building permit starts with an approved County zoning permit. Fees run from $50 on a valuation table, with plan review at a quarter of the permit fee for homes, and the office takes cash or check.
What requires a permit in Newberry County?
The County’s FAQ says a permit is needed whenever you build, enlarge, renovate or convert a building, or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system covered by the building codes ordinance. Placing or replacing a manufactured home needs a permit whatever it costs.
Building Department
- New homes and commercial buildings
- Additions, decks, renovations and accessory structures
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work
- Manufactured home set-up, moves and decals
- Certificates of occupancy and completion
- Fire and life-safety inspections
Zoning and land use
- Zoning permit before any building permit
- Flood permits
- Stormwater permits for land disturbance
- Signs and communication towers
- Subdivisions, rezonings and variances
If the County finds work under way without a required permit, the permit fee is doubled and a stop work order may follow. If the project description changes after the permit is issued, a new permit is needed.
Who handles permitting in Newberry County?
Building and zoning permits come from the County’s Building & Zoning offices at 1512 Martin Street, under Katie Werts, Director of Planning and Development. The Building Department covers the unincorporated areas of the county.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | 1512 Martin Street, Newberry, SC 29108 |
| Mailing address | Post Office Box 1014, Newberry, SC 29108 |
| Building Department | 803-321-2662 |
| Planning and Development / zoning | 803-321-2166 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Payment | Cash or check |
Towns in Newberry County
- Newberry (city): runs its own permitting through the Planning and Development office in City Hall, 1330 College Street (803-321-1019), for work inside city limits.
- Little Mountain (town): the Town says its ordinances and zoning procedures are separate from Newberry County’s and asks owners inside town limits to contact the Town first (803-605-8777); it does not post a building permit process of its own.
- Peak, Pomaria, Prosperity, Silverstreet and Whitmire (towns): none of them posts building permit information, and the County describes its own area as the unincorporated county, so ask the town hall before filing.
County forms and who can apply
The County’s forms page has a combined Building & Zoning Permit Application, an Electrical Permit Application, an Application for Gas, Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Permit, a Manufactured Home Permit Request, an Affidavit, a Disclosure Statement and a form to request a refund of a building permit fee.
- Homeowners may take out a permit for work on their own residence as long as the home is not offered for sale or rent for two years. Anyone they pay for work over $200 should hold the right state licence, and the owner, not the contractor, is answerable for deficient work on a permit in the owner’s name.
- Contractors hired to build, renovate or add on should take out the permit themselves. Contractors and homeowners pay the same fees.
- Manufactured homes may only be set up by installers licensed by the South Carolina Manufactured Housing Board.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Newberry County permit fees
The County charges building permits on total valuation, as published on its Forms and Fees page:
| Total valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1,000 or less | $50 |
| $1,001–$5,000 | $50 for the first $1,000 plus $10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $5,001–$50,000 | $50 for the first $5,000 plus $10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $270 for the first $50,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001–$500,000 | $470 for the first $100,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 and up | $1,670 for the first $500,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Plan review | A quarter of the permit fee for residential work, half for commercial |
| Re-inspection | $75 for the first, doubling each time after |
| Manufactured home inspection permit | $100 single-wide, $200 double-wide |
| Manufactured home moving permit / decal | $100 / $5 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Zoning and land use fees are separate: a zoning permit is $75, a flood permit $75, a demolition fee $50, and a variance request $150. Stormwater permits are charged per acre of disturbed land, at $120 for Level I, $150 for Level II and $200 for Level III, with plan review at half the permit cost.
What a new house application needs
- An approved County zoning permit
- Two sets of construction plans
- The contractor’s name, address, phone number and state licence
- A contract or agreement signed by the contractor
- The cost of the project
A manufactured home permit needs an approved zoning permit, proof of ownership (title, dealer sale agreement or bill of sale), a moving permit if the home comes from another county, the mover and installer sheets, and a form from the Delinquent Tax Collector’s office, issued through the Building Department, showing all taxes are paid.
How to apply for a Newberry County building permit
City addresses go to City Hall on College Street; county addresses go to 1512 Martin Street.
The $75 County zoning permit must be approved before the building permit.
Two plan sets, the contractor’s licence details and the signed contract.
Add the electrical or gas and HVAC forms where trades are involved; homeowners add the disclosure paperwork.
Permit fee plus plan review at a quarter (homes) or half (commercial).
Building, trade and final inspections lead to the certificate of occupancy or completion.
Rather not deal with the Newberry County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Newberry County
The Building Department carries out building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and fire and life-safety inspections and issues certificates of occupancy and completion; call 803-321-2662 to arrange them. Re-inspections cost $75 the first time and double after that.
For manufactured homes, the final inspection checks that the tongue and wheels are removed and the home is double-blocked and tied down for a 115 mph wind load, the power pole is within 30 feet with a 3-foot working space at the breaker box, the sewer clean-out and water cut-off are within 3 feet of the home, underpinning is in place (brick or block needs a footing), every entrance has a landing at least 3 by 3 feet, and the 911 address is posted on the home and at the road. A failed manufactured home final can bring a $25 re-inspection fee; call 803-321-2662 for the final, and on approval the County gives the power company an electrical release number.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Newberry County permit forms and official resources
- Newberry County Building & Inspection
- Forms and fees
- Building permit FAQ
- Manufactured home permits
- Building & Zoning Permit Application (2026)
- Newberry County Planning-Zoning
- Planning, zoning and stormwater fees
- City of Newberry Planning & Development
- Town of Little Mountain: ordinances and zoning procedures
Newberry County permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Newberry County, SC?
The Newberry County Building Department at 1512 Martin Street (803-321-2662) for the unincorporated county. The City of Newberry permits its own city limits.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a zoning permit first?
Yes. An approved County zoning permit, which costs $75, is required before a building permit.
How much is plan review?
A quarter of the building permit fee for residential work and half for commercial work.
Can a homeowner get a permit?
Yes, for their own residence, provided the home is not offered for sale or rent for two years.
What does a manufactured home permit cost?
$100 for a single-wide or $200 for a double-wide, plus $5 for the decal.
What happens if I start without a permit?
The permit fee is doubled and the County may issue a stop work order.
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More South Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Newberry County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.