WHY DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?

There are three permitting systems that affect flood recovery efforts:

1. Business licenses;
2. Building permits; and
3. 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.

Download a copy of the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations press release on LLR Issues Consumer Alert Regarding Property Repairs following flooding. (PDF, 79.07 KB)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BUILDING PERMITS, CLICK HERE.