Pool Permit in Charleston, South Carolina

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a pool permit in Charleston?

Charleston requires a "Pool" permit for residential pools and spas, with Building Inspections, Zoning and Engineering review all mandatory, the last verifying utility and drainage easements. The only exemption is the statewide one at S.C. Code 40-59-265, which covers prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep. Coastal conditions drive the submittal: structural plans must be signed and sealed by a licensed South Carolina structural engineer and must address "design to resistance buoyance (hydrostatic uplift) for regional, high-seasonal water-table and lateral adjacent soil loads," and for pools in flood zones AE, VE or Coastal A the guideline allows filtration and circulation pumps below the Design Flood Elevation only if anchored against flotation and protected against water entry, while "Heaters shall be at or above Design Flood Elevation (DFE)." The barrier is enforced at the end: "The final inspection will not be approved until all barrier requirements are installed to code." Prefabricated swimming pools. Always confirm with the office before starting.

How much does a pool permit cost in Charleston?

The pool guideline says the Application Fee, Plan Review Fee and Building Permit Fee all come from page 4 of the Building and Trade Permit Fee Schedule, whose construction-cost table covers "ALL SWIMMING POOLS - NEW CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATIONS & REPAIRS." That is a $40.00 non-refundable application fee, a permit fee of "$15.00 for the first $1,000 construction valuation, plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000" (then $260.00 plus $4.00 per additional thousand from $50,001 to $100,000), and a plan review fee equal to 50% of the permit fee. Schedule approved by Ordinance Nos. 2017-131, 2019-064 and 2019-072, effective October 1, 2019. Separate $40.00 application fees apply to the electrical and fuel gas sub-permits. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

How long does a pool permit take in Charleston?

Possible same-visit approval in a narrow case. The Permit Center's express menu lists "Pool (Residential) - Not in BAR/DRB," limited to "In-Ground only - no raised pools" and "Not in a flood zone"; anything outside that goes through normal review. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.

Where do you apply for a pool 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 pool 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.