Fence Permit in Charleston, South Carolina

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a fence permit in Charleston?

These rows describe the rules of the City of Charleston only, a city that spans parts of Charleston and Berkeley counties and includes the peninsula, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Daniel Island and Cainhoy; North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, the Town of James Island, Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms and unincorporated Charleston and Berkeley counties run their own permitting and are not covered here. Charleston requires a fence permit for residential fences, and the city lists Fences (Residential and Commercial) among its over-the-counter "Express" permits that can be walked through the Permit Center between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. What changes with size is which division reviews it, not whether a permit is needed: Zoning review is required on every fence permit, and Building Inspections review is added only for fences taller than 7 ft in height above grade. Zoning caps fence height at six feet on residentially zoned property outside a BAR district and seven feet (eight foot piers) inside one. Always confirm with the City of Charleston Permit Center, Development and Construction Services (Building Inspections Division) before starting.

How much does a fence permit cost in Charleston?

No fence line item exists. A fence is billed as a residential alteration or repair under the Building and Trade Permit Fee Schedule, approved by Ordinance Nos. 2017-131, 2019-064 and 2019-072, effective October 1, 2019: a $40.00 non-refundable application fee "required for all building and trade permits," plus a construction-cost based permit fee that is "Application Fee Only" at $1,000 or less of construction cost and "$15.00 for the first $1,000 construction valuation, plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000" above that. A plan review fee equal to 50% of the building permit fee applies when valuation exceeds $1,000 and plans must be reviewed. Starting without a permit doubles the money: the schedule's Penalties clause says "Where work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fees herein specified shall be doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall neither relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of this code in the execution of the work nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.". See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

How long does a fence permit take in Charleston?

Possible same-visit approval. The Permit Center lists Fences (Residential and Commercial) on its "Menu of 'Express' Permits (In Person Only)" that "have the possibility of receiving over-the-counter in-person approval if submitted and walked through the Permit Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however approval is never a guarantee.". Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.

Where do you apply for a fence permit in Charleston?

You can apply through the Charleston permit portal or contact the City of Charleston Permit Center, Development and Construction Services (Building Inspections Division) directly. The links are listed on this page.

Can a homeowner pull a fence permit themselves in Charleston?

Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. 40-59-260(A), (B), (C), (E), (F); 40-59-265; 40-59-280; 40-59-20(6), (7); 40-59-30(A)): South Carolina licenses residential builders and residential specialty contractors under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 59, and 40-59-260 exempts the owner of record who builds for himself. The exemption applies only if the owner does the work himself, with his own employees, or with licensed contractors or registered entities, if the structure is intended for the owner's sole occupancy or occupancy by the owner's family and is not intended for sale or rent, and if the general public does not have access to it. The owner must personally appear and sign the building permit application, and the local permitting agency must hand over a disclosure statement whose statutory text reads in part: You must supervise the construction yourself. You may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence. The building must be for your own use and occupancy. It may not be built for sale or rent. The sale restriction is two years and is a presumption rather than a flat bar: 40-59-260(B) makes proof of sale or rent, or of offering for sale or rent, within two years after completion or issuance of a certificate of occupancy prima facie evidence that the project was undertaken for sale or rent, which forfeits the exemption and exposes the owner to the chapter's penalties. South Carolina then adds a step no other state in this wave has: 40-59-260(E) requires the owner to promptly record a notice with the register of deeds, indexed under the owner's name in the grantor index, stating that the building was constructed by the owner as an unlicensed builder, and failure to record revokes the statutory exemption. The exemption is from the licensing chapter, not from the permit, and 40-59-280 requires the building official to refuse a permit unless the applicant furnishes evidence of licensure, registration, or exemption. Confirm how Charleston applies this before you apply.