WHY DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?
There are three permitting systems that affect flood recovery efforts:
- Business licenses;
- Building permits; and
- Contractors’ licenses.
Depending on the work you need to do, you may need one or more permits.
- You can do cleanup or minor repair work yourself – for example; removing water from your carpet or your floors; removing soaked drywell; repainting; replacing wallpaper; or replacing tile, flooring, and carpeting – without a business license, a building permit, or a contractors’ license.
- If you hire someone else to do cleanup or minor repair work, including the items listed above, your contractor will need a business license but not a building permit or a contractors’ license.
- If you do nonstructural repair work on the house in which you live – for example, installing new shingles or other roofing materials; replacing windows; replacing siding; or replacing or installing sheetrock – you will need a building permit, but not a business license.
- If you hire someone else to do nonstructural repair work, including the items listed above, your contractor will need a business license and a building permit.
- Any other work – including major repairs, structural work, and repairs on buildings in which you do not live – require all three permits.
General advice:
- Take pictures.
- Check your contractor’s credentials.
- Shop around for contractors, ask for quotes.
- Call the City/County Building Department before you start.
- Report any suspicious activity.
If you have questions or concerns, please contract the Sumter City/County Building Inspections Department at (803) 774-1617, or you can visit us online, http://sumtersc.gov/building-permits.aspx, or at our office 12 W. Liberty Street, Sumer, SC 29150.