What do these permits involve in Lexington County?

Question

Accepted Answer

Zoning Permit for a Nonresidential Land Use Activity (unincorporated Lexington County)

Zoning Ordinance §171.10 provides: "No building, structure, sign, or tract of land within the zoned area of the County shall be used, constructed, or developed until the issuance of a valid zoning permit," and "A new zoning permit is required for a new owner or transfer of ownership of a land use activity." Under §171.20 no building, structure, sign or activity may continue, be used or be occupied until the Zoning Administrator has indicated compliance with the Ordinance, and §171.30 assesses a fee established by County Council for every permit application. The county's Zoning page lists what needs a zoning permit: new construction, changes to existing structures, site improvement, a change in activity at the property, new tenants, new signs or sign modifications, and home based businesses. As to scope, the Zoning FAQ states that "The Lexington County Zoning Ordinance only pertains to unincorporated areas of the County. Municipalities have jurisdiction within their own city/town limits." A permit is effective for two years from approval, and five one-year extensions are granted while its obligations continue to be met (§171.10). Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, a nonresidential zoning permit is $106.00 per acre (or portion). For food trucks, §21.21(s) states that "Mobile food trucks that provide a temporary service are allowed at existing non-residential developments, provided the location is within the parameters of the development or for on-site construction activities. Food trucks located at a permanent location or food truck courts must meet applicable requirements for a Food Services activity." For retail, §21.21(t) allows exterior display of goods as an accessory to the principal retail activity, with goods kept within an enclosed structure or building overnight. The county's FAQ answers the business license question by pointing to this permit; see the jurisdiction notes.

Sign Permit (Zoning, unincorporated Lexington County)

Zoning Ordinance §26.11 states: "Zoning permits are required for the following temporary and permanent signs: portable or moveable signs; off-premise subdivision/development signs; freestanding business signs, including changeable copy signs, commercial center signs and electronic message boards; canopy signs; residential/commercial/industrial subdivision and development signs; wall signs; high rise building signs; and advertising signs." Under §171.10, sign permits for on-site land use activities are not issued until a valid zoning permit or other zoning approval has been issued for the associated activity. The county's Application for Sign Review (revised 6/14/2019) requires two copies of a site plan drawn to an engineering scale and two copies of plans for wall or building signs, and states: "Signs should not be erected, installed, or replaced prior to obtaining a valid zoning sign permit." Under §26.12 signs comply with the County's Building Code and no sign may be installed within a 10-foot radius of any overhead electrical conductor; signs along Scenic Corridors may face stricter limits. Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, a business sign permit is $90.00 and a temporary sign permit is $190.00.

Building Permit and Commercial Plan Review (Lexington County Building Inspection)

County Code §14-261 (Ord. No. 20-01, July 28, 2020) requires any owner, contractor or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install or alter any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the code, to "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit." Under §14-271 the applicant must first provide "a valid zoning permit, landscape permit, and/or land disturbance permit, as applicable, from the delegated authority of the jurisdiction where the construction or alteration is to be located," and under §14-270 construction in a flood hazard area needs the floodplain manager's documented approval first. §14-332 sets fees "in accordance with the schedule established by Lexington County Council". Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, the permit fee is calculated by staff from International Codes Council building valuation data at issuance; commercial plan review is $300.00 for a project under $1 million valuation and $590.00 at $1 million or more; and after a free first inspection each re-inspection is $60.00. Applications, inspection requests and uploads go through the county's online Building Permits Portal (803-785-8130). The county's Sub-Contractor Permit Application states that no permit fee is assessed for a sub permit under a general contractor's master permit, that a standalone permit fee "will be based on your contract amount", and asks for "a copy of your state license card (not master's, journeyman or municipal)"; state contractor licenses are separate state records.

Certificate of Occupancy (Lexington County Building Inspection)

County Code §14-371 (Ord. No. 20-01, July 28, 2020) provides: "No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein." The section adds that a certificate is not an approval of any violation of the code or other county ordinances, and that certificates are not required for work exempt from permits or for accessory buildings or structures not intended to be occupied. Under §14-270, in a flood hazard area a certificate of occupancy cannot be issued until the floodplain manager has concluded that the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance has been met. The Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026 lists a Replacement Certificate of Occupancy at $31.00 and a Temporary Power for Occupancy Permit at $50.00. A business moving into a space in the unincorporated county also needs its zoning permit, since the county's Zoning page lists new tenants and a change in activity among the things that require one.

Landscape Permit for Nonresidential Development (unincorporated Lexington County)

Section 1.3 of the Lexington County Landscape and Open Space Ordinance applies its regulations to residential attached dwelling units, mobile home parks, residential subdivisions "and all nonresidential development within the unincorporated area of Lexington County", except public road or utility construction, agricultural operations (their processing, transport, warehousing and retail areas remain covered), advertising signs, most mail kiosks, and temporary construction, grading, storage and parking activities incidental to developing a principal activity. Under §1.3.1 any building, structure or tract of land is used, constructed or developed only in accordance with the Ordinance, and "A landscape permit shall be effective for two years from the date of the approval", with five one-year extensions while the permit's obligations continue to be met. County Code §14-271 requires a valid landscape permit, where applicable, before a building permit for construction or alteration. Per the county's "Development Review and Permit Fees – Effective 7/1/2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, a nonresidential landscape permit is $106.00 per acre (or portion), a landscape variance request $382.00 and a landscape appeal $228.00. A new restaurant, shop, studio, clinic or garage built in the unincorporated county is nonresidential development within §1.3.

Commercial Land Development Plan Review and County Land Disturbance Permit (Lexington County Land Development Division)

The county's Commercial Plan Review page states: "Plans for commercial development in the unincorporated areas of Lexington County are submitted to the Community Development Department." Every plan must include each item on the Checklist for Commercial Development in the Lexington County Land Development Manual, and the NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Large & Small Construction Activities (NOI) application is turned in with the plans "along with appropriate County and DHEC fees. Plans will not be reviewed until appropriate fees are paid in full." Revisions go directly to the Land Development Division, which forwards the approved documentation to DES; the page states that work cannot begin until the site is covered under the NPDES General Permit, and that once the Division receives notice of that coverage "a County Land Disturbance Permit can be issued." Per the Lexington County Land Development "Plan Review and Inspection Fees Effective 7-1-2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, commercial plan review is $2,520 plus $220 per acre and environmental inspection is $2,520 plus $220 per acre (the schedule's line reads "per acre or portion of" and is cut off there), with a $615 re-inspection fee for final approval. The state NPDES permit fee is separate; the schedule notes that its figures do not include it. Smaller sites may qualify for the Public Works Stormwater Division's Small Commercial Land Disturbance Permit instead.

Small Commercial Land Disturbance Permit (Lexington County Public Works Stormwater Division)

Section 2.2.2.2 of the Lexington County Land Development Manual 2026 (revised March 2026) states: "A Small Commercial Land Disturbance Permit is required for new development and redevelopment activities that disturb less than one acre and do not involve clearing, grading, or the installation of storm drainage systems. The PW/SWD reserves the right to require a General LDP for any of these projects." Engineering site plans may be required in certain situations. The submittal contains the application form from Appendix A with the original signature, a site narrative, and a project sketch showing disturbed and undisturbed areas, stormwater controls, the 100-year floodplain and floodway, property lines, sediment and erosion controls and any new driveways or parking. The permit is issued by the Public Works Stormwater Division after review of an application submitted to Community Development: the department forwards the submittal, the Division makes a site visit to decide whether the project can be permitted as small commercial or needs full engineering plans, and notifies the applicant; the permit then outlines the activities allowed on site and the sediment and erosion control requirements. Per the Lexington County Land Development "Plan Review and Inspection Fees Effective 7-1-2026" schedule, linked under "Fee Structure" on the Community Development Fees & Ordinances page, the permit fee is $440.

Floodplain Permit for Development in the Special Flood Hazard Area (unincorporated Lexington County)

Ordinance 18-05, "An Ordinance Amending the Lexington County, Chapter 31, Flood Damage Prevention Code", applies to the areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of Lexington County Unincorporated Areas identified by FEMA in its Flood Insurance Study dated July 5, 2018, and states: "A floodplain permit is required for all developments located in the Special Flood Hazard Area. The Floodplain Manager may require a building permit applicant to obtain a floodplain permit." For development outside the parameters of a building permit, §1-6 requires a floodplain permit reviewed and approved by the Lexington County Floodplain Manager. The ordinance states that it "shall become effective upon adoption" and was enacted in 2018. County Code §14-270 adds that anyone intending to build a structure that needs a building permit in a flood hazard area must first provide the floodplain manager's documented approval, and that no final inspection or certificate of occupancy follows until the floodplain manager has concluded that the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance has been met. The county's Floodplain Management page notes that the county has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979 and that Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Elevation Certificates may be viewed at the County Administration Building. No floodplain permit fee is published on either 2026-27 county fee schedule.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Zoning Permit for a Nonresidential Land Use Activity (unincorporated Lexington County)	Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning	Zoning Permit, Nonresidential: $106.00 per acre (or portion), per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026. Related items on the same schedule: Zoning Compliance Review $46.00; Zoning Variance Request (Nonresidential) $382.00; Zoning Special Exception Request $382.00; Zoning Appeal $228.00; Stop Work Order Release $269.00.	effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions while the permit's obligations are met (Zoning Ordinance §171.10); a new owner or transfer of ownership needs a new permit	2026-10-19
Sign Permit (Zoning, unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning	Sign Permit: Business $90.00; Temporary $190.00, per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026.	per sign; a term is not stated in the Zoning Ordinance or the fee schedule	2026-10-19
Building Permit and Commercial Plan Review (Lexington County Building Inspection)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Community Development Department, Building Inspection	Permit fee: the schedule states "Building permit fees are based on building valuation data as published by the International Codes Council and will be calculated by staff at the time of permit issuance." Commercial Plan Review Fees: Small Commercial (< $1 million valuation) $300.00; Large Commercial ($1 million valuation and greater) $590.00; Voluntary Revisions $180.00. Re-inspections: first inspection no fee; each additional re-inspection $60.00; inspection not ready/work incomplete $60.00. Stop Work Order Release $269.00. All per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026.	per project; a permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 90 days, with written extensions of up to 90 days each (County Code §14-265)	2026-10-19
Certificate of Occupancy (Lexington County Building Inspection)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Community Development Department, Building Inspection	No separate certificate of occupancy fee is published on the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026; the certificate follows the building permit and its inspections. Replacement Certificate of Occupancy: $31.00, and Temporary Power for Occupancy Permit: $50.00, per the same schedule.	one-time, issued on completion of the permitted work; a new certificate is needed for a change in occupancy classification	2026-10-19
Landscape Permit for Nonresidential Development (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning	Landscape Permit, Nonresidential: $106.00 per acre (or portion), per the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule effective 7/1/2026. Landscape Variance Request $382.00; Landscape Appeal $228.00; Stop Work Order Release $269.00.	effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions while the permit's obligations are met (Landscape and Open Space Ordinance §1.3.1)	2026-10-19
Commercial Land Development Plan Review and County Land Disturbance Permit (Lexington County Land Development Division)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Community Development Department, Land Development Division	Commercial Submittal Fees: Plan Review = $2,520 plus $220 per acre; Environmental Inspection = $2,520 plus $220 per acre (each line on the schedule reads "per acre or portion of", with the wording cut off there). Additional reviews and re-submittals: 25% of the original plan review fee. Re-inspection Fee for Final Approval: $615. Unauthorized Land Disturbance Activity for Development: $945 + Double Submittal Fees. The schedule notes: "Does not include DES NPDES permit fee". All per the Land Development Plan Review and Inspection Fees schedule effective 7-1-2026.	per project; a term is not stated on the Commercial Plan Review page or the fee schedule	2026-10-19
Small Commercial Land Disturbance Permit (Lexington County Public Works Stormwater Division)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Public Works Stormwater Division (PW/SWD)	$440 per permit	per project; the permit outlines the activities allowed on site	2026-10-19
Floodplain Permit for Development in the Special Flood Hazard Area (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to you	Lexington County Community Development Department, Floodplain Management	No floodplain permit fee is published on the Development Review and Permit Fees schedule or the Land Development fee schedule (both effective 7/1/2026); contact Lexington County Community Development for any amount due.	per development	2026-10-19

Business licenses and permits in Lexington County, South Carolina

What are you opening in Lexington County?

Permits that apply to every type of business in Lexington County