North Augusta, South Carolina Building Permit Guide

North Augusta’s Building Standards Department in the Municipal Building at 100 Georgia Avenue issues building, electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits inside city limits. Start by emailing a short project description to permits@northaugustasc.gov for the right forms; fees come from a valuation table based on ICC building valuation data, and inspections are generally done the next business day.

What requires a permit in North Augusta?

The City requires a Building Permit Application for each of these project types:

North Augusta building department: who handles permitting

Building Standards controls construction, refurbishment, use and occupancy of homes and commercial buildings in the city, and checks contractor licensing before a permit is issued. Site plans are approved by the Department of Planning and Development and, where needed, the Engineering Department. Property outside city limits is not covered by Building Standards.

North Augusta permits: who can pull them and the filing steps

• Homes: single-family permits go to contractors licensed by the state Residential Builders Commission or Contractor’s Licensing Board, or to a homeowner who owns and currently lives in the home.
• Commercial: projects over $5,000 in valuation need a contractor with a state General Contractor’s licence; below $5,000, a residential builder may do the work.
• Trades: electrical, plumbing and mechanical work needs a state Mechanical Contractor’s licence whatever the job is worth.

The City’s permitting process runs in this order: building permit application, business licence application, plan submittal, floodplain status check, site plan approval by Planning and Development, site plan approval by Engineering where it applies, then construction document and contractor licence approval by Building Standards before the permit is issued. Room additions also need the Room Addition Information Sheet.

North Augusta permit cost

For building permits, the valuation is the area under roof times the per-square-foot value for the building’s construction type and occupancy in the ICC Building Valuation Data chart for August of the previous year. Pools use their actual value.

For example, a home valued at $300,000 has a building permit fee of $1,369 ($569 plus 200 × $4). Work started before the permit is issued pays double fees.

The City’s fee schedules charge $50 for each re-inspection, payable before the re-inspection is done and before the final or certificate of occupancy, although the Inspections page still quotes $25.

North Augusta trade permits

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits each have their own schedule. A new home pays a flat $50 per trade and a new commercial building $100 per trade; alterations and repairs are priced on the job’s contract amount using the same valuation table as building permits.

• Electrical extras: temporary pole $25, pool electrical $50, electric meter set $25.
• Plumbing extras: lawn sprinkler $25.
• Gas extras: gas meter set $25.

Rooftop solar must be installed by a licensed residential builder, a specialty contractor with a roofing classification or a general contractor with a roofing classification, and the electrical connection made by a licensed builder or electrical contractor. Solar plans need a roof layout, racking design, line diagram with conductor sizes, equipment locations, electrical load calculations and equipment specification sheets. A pool permit is not issued until a licensed electrician has bought the electrical permit.

Application documents and plan review

• Two complete sets of construction documents; residential plans on 11 x 17 sheets
• Commercial plans in print for review, with a PDF drawing before the permit is issued
• The sprinkler system specification sheet for buildings with automatic sprinklers
• A site plan approved by the Department of Planning and Development
• Floodplain documentation where the site is in a floodplain

Plans can be submitted by the licensed contractor doing the work, or by the project’s architect or engineer if they pay the plan review fee. Signs need a zoning review by Planning and Development, and grading needs prior approval from Planning and Development and Engineering.

North Augusta permit application: how to apply step by step

Inspections in North Augusta

Request inspections by email to binspections@northaugustasc.gov or by phone on 803-442-5731, giving the permit number, address and type of inspection; they are performed the next business day unless something unforeseen prevents it. The permit placard must be visible from the street (or kept in the plans box if the address is clearly posted), and a full set of plans must stay in a permit/plans box on site, where inspectors leave their results. No inspection is made if the placard or address cannot be seen from the street.

• Building inspections: footing, foundation (with a preliminary floodplain certificate where it applies), underground mechanical, framing, rough-in, insulation, utility and final
• Other departments: erosion control with Stormwater (803-441-4246), underground infrastructure and driveways or sidewalks with Engineering (803-474-2922), landscaping with Planning and Zoning (803-441-4221)
• Commercial extras: duct tightness test, kitchen hood and suppression, fire alarm and sprinkler tests, boiler certification above 200,000 BTU, bacteriological test and backflow test results before the final

Every required inspection must pass before a certificate of occupancy is issued, and living in a building without one is unlawful.

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

North Augusta permit search and official resources

• North Augusta permits
• North Augusta inspections
• Permit fee schedules (Document Central)
• Building Permit Fee Schedule
• Electric Permit Fee Schedule
• Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule
• Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule
• Gas Permit Fee Schedule

North Augusta building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in North Augusta?

The City’s Building Standards Department at 100 Georgia Avenue (803-441-4223), for property inside city limits.

How much is a building permit in North Augusta?

It comes from the valuation table: a $300,000 project pays $1,369. New-home trade permits add $50 each for electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas.

Can a homeowner pull a permit?

Yes, for a single-family home the homeowner owns and currently lives in.

Do I need a permit to replace windows, siding or a roof?

Yes. Roofing, vinyl siding and window and door installation are all on the City’s permit list.

How fast are inspections?

Requests by email or on 803-442-5731 are generally inspected the next business day.

What happens if I start work without a permit?

The permit fees are doubled.

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