What do these permits involve in Anderson County?

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County Business License — Anderson County Auditor FAQ Statement

The Anderson County Auditor's FAQ (page modified October 9, 2026) answers the question "Does Anderson County have a County Business License?" as follows: "Currently, Anderson County does not require a county business license. However, if you are working inside a municipality, please contact that municipality for further information regarding work inside their corporal limits." Because the Auditor's FAQ says the county does not require a county business license, there is no county business license fee to pay. A business located in, or working inside, one of the nine municipalities the county's 2026 Comprehensive Plan lists (Anderson, Belton, Honea Path, Iva, Pelzer, Pendleton, Starr, West Pelzer and Williamston) contacts that municipality about its own business license, as the FAQ directs. Premises, signs, building work and land disturbance in the unincorporated county still go through Development Standards, Building and Codes and the Stormwater Department, as the other records for this county describe.

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".

Commercial Building, Electrical, Heating & Air and Plumbing Permits; Plan Review

The Building and Codes Department, part of the county's Public Works Division at 401 E. River Street, Anderson, issues building, electrical, heating and air (mechanical) and plumbing permits. The county's up-fit form and sign packet both send applicants to Building and Codes for these permits after Development Standards review. All amounts are as published in the department's "PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE Effective 7-1-2026". Commercial construction costs $120.00 for $1.00-$10,000 of construction cost and $120.00 plus $3.80 per $1,000 above $10,000. The plan review fee is one-half of the building permit fee, and the schedule states "All Plan Review Fee's will be collected at time of Plan Review Submittal." Electrical and heating and air permits use the same construction-cost table, from $100.00 for up to $2,000 to $600 plus $2.50 per thousand over $200,000. Commercial plumbing is $100.00 plus $5.00 per fixture. A reinspection is $65.00, a renewal of a building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing permit is $75.00 each, and a demolition permit is $100.00. A refund request carries a $25 administrative fee, and the schedule states that no refunds are administered once inspections have been conducted.

Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Permit (land disturbance of 1 acre or more)

Appendix L of the county's Stormwater Design Manual states that an application for a Stormwater Management and Sediment Control permit to disturb land in Anderson County "shall be accompanied by nonrefundable Fees", and that "No application or Fee is required for land disturbing activities which disturb less than 1 acre and are not part of an LCP." The county's Stormwater page states that "Stormwater Design Manual documents and fees have been revised effective July 1, 2026" and lists the fees as Appendix L. The fee for land disturbance requiring a plan is a base fee of $2,000 plus $500 per disturbed acre; a waiver or variance request adds $2,500; an extension of up to six months is $250 per disturbed acre and a renewal $500 per disturbed acre; each resubmittal beyond two is $750; a major modification is $2,500 plus $500 per added disturbed acre; and a compliance inspection after a notice to comply is $750. Appendix L notes that these amounts exclude the fee the state charges separately for the NPDES construction permit. The county's Land Disturbing Activity Application sends projects over one acre, or part of a larger common plan, to the Stormwater Department.

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.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
County Business License — Anderson County Auditor FAQ Statementonly if it applies to you	Anderson County Auditor	No fee	not applicable; this record reports the Auditor's FAQ statement as published on the page modified October 9, 2026	2026-10-27
Commercial Land Use Permit (Site Plan Review)only if it applies to you	Anderson County Development Standards	Site 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 project	2026-10-27
Up-Fit to Existing Building Reviewonly if it applies to you	Anderson County Development Standards	$70 application processing fee, per up-fit application (Development Standards schedule approved July 1, 2026)	one-time, per up-fit	2026-10-27
Sign Permit and Existing-Sign Up-fitonly if it applies to you	Anderson County Development Standards	Development 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 sign	2026-10-27
Commercial Building, Electrical, Heating & Air and Plumbing Permits; Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you	Anderson County Building and Codes Department	PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE Effective 7-1-2026. Commercial building, by construction cost: $1.00-$10,000 $120.00; over $10,000 $120.00 plus $3.80 per $1,000. Plan review: one-half (½) of the building permit fee, collected at plan review submittal. Electrical (residential/commercial) and heating & air, by construction cost: $1.00-$2,000 $100.00; $2,001-$50,000 $100 plus $5.50 per thousand over $2,000; $50,001-$100,000 $300 plus $4.50 per thousand over $50,000; $100,001-$150,000 $450 plus $3.50 per thousand over $100,000; $150,001-$200,000 $550 plus $3.00 per thousand over $150,000; $200,001 and up $600 plus $2.50 per thousand over $200,000. Commercial plumbing $100.00 plus $5.00 per fixture. Reinspection $65.00; renewal $75.00 per permit; demolition permit $100.00; refund administrative fee $25.	per permit, per project	2026-10-27
Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Permit (land disturbance of 1 acre or more)only if it applies to you	Anderson County Stormwater Department	Appendix L (fees revised effective July 1, 2026): base fee $2,000 plus $500 per disturbed acre; waiver or variance request $2,500; extension of up to six months $250 per disturbed acre; renewal $500 per disturbed acre (extension and renewal use the total approved acreage); excessive resubmittal $750 for each resubmittal over two; major modification $2,500, plus $500 per added disturbed acre; compliance inspection after a notice to comply $750 per inspection. All fees are nonrefundable.	per project; extensions of up to six months and renewals are charged per disturbed acre	2026-10-27
Zoning Letters, Variances, Special Exceptions and Rezoningonly if it applies to you	Anderson County Development Standards	Development 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 application	2026-10-27

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