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Anderson County

Anderson County Development Standards

In short

Anderson County Development Standards issues 7 permits we publish for Anderson County, last verified 2026-10-27. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Land Use Permit (Site Plan Review)only if it applies to youAnderson County Development StandardsSite Plan Review Fee Schedule (page 4 of the county's Commercial Land Use Permit Application, the schedule the adopted July 1, 2026 Development Standards fee schedule refers to): by building square footage, $145 for 1-2,000 sf (the minimum fee), rising $10 for each further 1,000 sf band ($155 for 2,001-3,000 sf, $165 for 3,001-4,000 sf … $605 for 47,001-48,000 sf); over 48,000 sf, $615 plus $0.02 per sf up to a million. Card payments carry a 1.75% processing fee.one-time, per project2026-10-27
Up-Fit to Existing Building Reviewonly if it applies to youAnderson County Development Standards$70 application processing fee, per up-fit application (Development Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026)one-time, per up-fit2026-10-27
Sign Permit and Existing-Sign Up-fitonly if it applies to youAnderson County Development StandardsDevelopment Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026: Sign Permit $85.00 per sign; Up-fit to Existing Signs $70.00 per sign. A separate Building and Codes permit covers the sign's structural, electrical and foundation work.one-time, per sign2026-10-27
Seasonal/Temporary Use Permit (stands and retail tents)only if it applies to youAnderson County Development Standards$100 per permit (Development Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026)until the expiration date set on the permit; seasonal permits are placed on an annual renewal list2026-10-27
Home Occupation Permitonly if it applies to youAnderson County Development Standards$100 application processing fee (Development Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026)not stated on the county's Home Occupation Application or the July 1, 2026 fee schedule2026-10-27
Grading Permit and Land Disturbing Activity Permit (under 1 acre)only if it applies to youAnderson County Development StandardsDevelopment Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026: Land Disturbing Activity Less than One Acre $200.00; Grading Permit $850.00 (commercial, industrial or residential).per project2026-10-27
Zoning Letters, Variances, Special Exceptions and Rezoningonly if it applies to youAnderson County Development StandardsDevelopment Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026: Special Exception Application $375.00; Variance Application $375.00; Planning Commission Variance $375.00; Simple Zoning Letter $60.00; Detailed Research Zoning Letter $125.00. Rezoning, per the county's Rezoning Fee sheet (July 2026) referred to by that schedule: to a nonresidential district (OD, OD-LTD, C-1, C-1N, C-1NB, C-1R, C-2, C-3, S-1, I-1, I-2), by acreage, $520.00 (1 acre or less), $555.00 (2 or less), $590.00 (3 or less), $625.00 (4 or less), $635.00 (5 or less), $690.00 (6 or less), $725.00 (7 or less), $760.00 (8 or less), $790.00 (9 or less), $850.00 (9 or more); PD, IZD, RRD or PC $900.00; any text amendment $450.00.one-time, per application2026-10-27

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Commercial Land Use Permit (Site Plan Review)

The county's Commercial Land Use Permit Application states that "Land Use Permits are required by Anderson County Chapter 24 Land Use Ordinance", and lists as commercial examples "Warehouses, Retail Stores, Office Buildings, Medical Centers, Malls, Hotels" and as industrial examples "Sawmills, Boat Storage, Automotive, Technology". The packet adds: "A land use permit is not needed if an applicant if wanting to obtain a vacant building and occupy it with a use that was similar with its previous occupancy. An up-fit to existing buildings application would be required instead." A new sign needs a separate sign permit after the land use permit is approved. The applicant submits a scaled site plan (setbacks, parking, entrances, buffers, floodplain and impervious area), a lease or owner's letter of authorization, and payment with the application. The amounts come from the Site Plan Review Fee Schedule on page 4 of the current application packet, which the adopted the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule incorporates with the entry "Commercial/ Industrial/ Multifamily Land Use — See fee schedule with application": "There is a minimum fee of $145 based on a minimum 2,000 square foot building"; the fee rises $10 per 1,000 sf band to $605 at 47,001-48,000 sf, and over 48,000 sf it is $615 plus $0.02 per square foot up to a million. The packet states that "All card payments are subject to a 1.75% processing fee".

Up-Fit to Existing Building Review

A business moving into an existing building whose new use is similar to the previous occupancy files the Up-Fits to Existing Buildings Form with Development Standards instead of a Commercial Land Use Permit, as the county's land use packet directs. The form asks for the existing or previous use of the building, the proposed new use, whether the property is zoned or not zoned, interior site plans where applicable, construction plans for canopies or awnings, and a lease and owner contact details when the applicant is not the owner. It states "ALLOW 48-72 HOURS FOR REVIEW" and that "Upon review a copy will be provided to building and codes"; the applicant then contacts Building and Codes for any further permits. A new or changed sign needs a separate sign permit or signage up-fit application. The fee is $70.00, listed as "Up-fits to Existing Building $70.00" in the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule, and the form shows the same "Application Processing Fee $70.00".

Sign Permit and Existing-Sign Up-fit

The county's Sign Permit Information Packet reproduces Sec. 24-242(a) of the county code: "This division regulates the number, size, placement and physical characteristics of signs, exempts certain signs, prohibits certain signs, and requires permits for certain signs." Under Sec. 24-242(b), no sign permit is issued unless the sign conforms to the division. Signs must sit at least five feet from any defined right-of-way or property line, or 15 feet from the pavement edge where the right-of-way is undefined. The packet adds: "You must contact the Building and Codes Department at (864) 260-4158 to obtain a seperate building permit that will cover the structural, electrical and foundation." A business replacing a sign of exactly the same size uses the Existing Signage Up-fit Form, which states "New or up-fitted sign(s) must be the EXACT square feet of the previous sign or a new Sign Permit Application will be required." The fees are $85.00 per sign for a Sign Permit and $70.00 per sign for an Up-fit to Existing Signs, as listed in the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule; the packet's application page shows "Application Fee $85.00 Per Sign" and the up-fit form shows "Application Processing Fee $70.00 Per Sign".

Seasonal/Temporary Use Permit (stands and retail tents)

The county's Seasonal/Temporary Use Permit Application covers "FIREWORK STANDS - SHAVED ICE STANDS – RETAIL TENTS – TENT REVIVALS- HAUNTED HOUSES – CHRISTMAS TREES", and the Development Standards page lists "Temporary and seasonal applications (firework stands, haunted house attractions, etc.)". The applicant submits a site plan showing setbacks, distance from streets and fuel dispensers, and a lease or property owner's permission; a firework stand also submits its Fireworks Retail Sales Permit, a State Fire Marshal inspection and proof of liability insurance. The form states that "Seasonal permit applicants will automatically be added to an annual renewal list", that the approval card must stay posted until the expiration period, and that the stand or tent must be removed on or before the expiration date. It adds: "ALL APPROVED APPLICANTS MUST CONTACT BUILDING AND CODES TO VERIFY IF ADDITIONAL PERMITTING IS NEEDED". The fee is $100.00 per permit, listed as "Seasonal/ Temporary Event Permit $100.00" in the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule; the form shows the same "Application Fee ($100.00 per a permit)".

Home Occupation Permit

The county's Home Occupation Application sets out two sets of rules. In areas not zoned, it quotes Code Sec. 24-24: a home business is a business within a dwelling, secondary to its use as a dwelling, with no exterior indication other than one non-illuminated nameplate of up to two square feet, no more than one employee in addition to the occupants, and no nuisance. In zoned areas, under Chapter 48, Article 6, Sec. 6:11, no more than two persons other than residents may work in the occupation, there may be no retail sale of merchandise made off the premises "except for products related directly to the service performed, such as beauty products", and no merchandise display visible from the street. The permitted occupations listed include "Barber or Beautician", "Child Care Home" and "Dance Instructor"; other occupations may be permitted by the Board of Zoning Appeals. A tenant applicant supplies the owner's written permission, and the applicant must research private covenants and deed restrictions at the Register of Deeds. The fee is $100.00, listed as "Home Occupation Permit $100.00" in the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule; the form shows the same "Application Processing Fee $100.00".

Grading Permit and Land Disturbing Activity Permit (under 1 acre)

Development Standards takes two land-disturbance applications. The Land Disturbing Activity Application is for projects under one acre; it states that a project "greater than one (1) acre or part of a larger common plan" goes to the Stormwater Department instead, and the applicant confirms they will abide by the Stormwater Management and Sedimentation Control requirements of the county code. The Grading Permit Application covers commercial, industrial or residential property and includes an indemnification agreement with the county; it states that the Stormwater Department will have the permit at the preconstruction meeting on site. The fees are $200.00 for Land Disturbing Activity Less than One Acre and $850.00 for a Grading Permit, as listed in the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule; the forms show the same amounts ("Processing Fee: 200.00" and "Processing Fee: $850 (Commercial / Industrial/ Residential)").

Zoning Letters, Variances, Special Exceptions and Rezoning

A business that needs a zoning letter for a lender or landlord, relief from a dimensional standard, a use allowed only by special exception, or a change of a parcel's zoning district applies through Development Standards. The county's own forms distinguish "Zoned" from "Not Zoned" property, so rezoning and district-based approvals concern property in the county's zoned areas. As listed in the "Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026", the county's adopted Development Standards schedule, a Special Exception Application, a Variance Application and a Planning Commission Variance are each $375.00, a Simple Zoning Letter is $60.00 and a Detailed Research Zoning Letter is $125.00. For rezoning that schedule says "See fee schedule with application"; the county's Rezoning Fee sheet posted in July 2026 sets rezoning to a nonresidential district (OD, OD-LTD, C-1, C-1N, C-1NB, C-1R, C-2, C-3, S-1, I-1, I-2) at $520.00 for 1 acre or less, then $555.00, $590.00, $625.00, $635.00, $690.00, $725.00, $760.00 and $790.00 for 2 through 9 acres or less, and $850.00 for 9 acres or more. Rezoning to PD, IZD, RRD or PC is $900.00, and any text amendment is $450.00.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Anderson County
Phone
(864) 260-4719

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Commercial Land Use Permit ApplicationAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  2. Development StandardsAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  3. Development Standards New Fee Schedule Approved July 1, 2026Anderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  4. Development Standards Sign Permit Information Packet & ApplicationAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  5. Existing Signage Up-fit FormAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  6. Grading Permit ApplicationAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  7. Home Occupation ApplicationAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  8. Land Disturbing Activity ApplicationAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  9. Rezoning FeeAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  10. Seasonal/ Temporary Permit ApplicationAnderson County Development Standards · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27
  11. Up-Fits to Existing Buildings FormAnderson County Planning & Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-27

Other offices serving Anderson County

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Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.