Plumbing Permit in Columbia, South Carolina

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a plumbing permit in Columbia?

Plumbing permits in Columbia come from the city, not from a county health district: Chapter 5, Sec. 5-91 adopts the 2021 International Plumbing Code as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council, and the Development Center issues the permit on the Plumbing Permit Application (rev. 04/2026), which asks for the SC-LLR license number, a list of all fixtures to be connected, and the executed contract for valuation. The requirement is conditional in the same way as the other trades: where a licensed residential home builder holds the building permit and the licensed subcontractors are listed on it with city qualification cards, separate trade permits are not required. Natural gas piping is a separate application from plumbing. Rough in and final plumbing inspections are both required. Always confirm with the City of Columbia Planning and Development Services, Building Inspections Division and Development Center before starting.

How much does a plumbing permit cost in Columbia?

Plumbing work at a one or two family dwelling is priced under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-204(a)(2) with the other trades: $20.00 for total value of $1.00 to $5,000.00, then $4.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof. Water meter and sewer tap sales are handled separately by Utilities and Engineering, not by the plumbing permit fee. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Columbia?

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

Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Columbia?

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 Columbia applies this before you apply.