Commercial Compliance Hub
Check requirements

14 permits · verified 2026-10-19

What permits do you need to open a childcare centre in Lexington County?

In short

A childcare centre in Lexington County, SC has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 11 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning charges $90 per permit for the home occupation permit (unincorporated lexington county). 9 of the 14 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-19 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a childcare centre in Lexington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Home Occupation Permit (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, Zoning$90 per permitas for a zoning permit: effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions (Zoning Ordinance §171.10)2026-10-19
Child Care Centre LicenseSouth Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and EducationNo fee3 years for a centre license; a family child care home registers for two2026-09-03

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

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Lexington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Zoning Permit for a Nonresidential Land Use Activity (unincorporated Lexington County)Lexington County Community Development Department, ZoningVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageeffective 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 permit2026-10-19
Sign Permit (Zoning, unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, ZoningVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageper sign; a term is not stated in the Zoning Ordinance or the fee schedule2026-10-19
Building Permit and Commercial Plan Review (Lexington County Building Inspection)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, Building InspectionVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageper 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 youLexington County Community Development Department, Building InspectionVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageone-time, issued on completion of the permitted work; a new certificate is needed for a change in occupancy classification2026-10-19
Landscape Permit for Nonresidential Development (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, ZoningVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageeffective 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 youLexington County Community Development Department, Land Development DivisionVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageper project; a term is not stated on the Commercial Plan Review page or the fee schedule2026-10-19
Small Commercial Land Disturbance Permit (Lexington County Public Works Stormwater Division)only if it applies to youLexington County Public Works Stormwater Division (PW/SWD)$440 per permitper project; the permit outlines the activities allowed on site2026-10-19
Floodplain Permit for Development in the Special Flood Hazard Area (unincorporated Lexington County)only if it applies to youLexington County Community Development Department, Floodplain ManagementVaries — formula on the Lexington County pageper development2026-10-19

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

SC registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Corporate Annual Report and License Feeonly if it applies to youSouth Carolina Department of RevenueVaries — formula on the SC pageannual — due on the fifteenth day of the fourth month after the tax year ends2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youSouth Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings$110 one-time filingperpetual — an LLC files no annual report in South Carolina2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youSouth Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings$135 at filing — $110 to the Secretary of State plus the $25 initial license feeperpetual, but an annual report and license fee are due every year2026-09-03
Local Business LicenseSouth Carolina Department of RevenueVaries — formula on the SC page1 May to 30 April, the same in every South Carolina jurisdiction2026-09-03

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

How much does it actually cost to permit a childcare centre in Lexington County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 14 records listed for a childcare centre in Lexington County, SC, 3 apply to every business of this type and 11 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

9 of the 14 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all.

The other 9 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Lexington County permits page and the SC state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Lexington County?

Permits for a childcare centre in Lexington County, SC come from 8 separate offices: Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning, Lexington County Community Development Department, Building Inspection, Lexington County Community Development Department, Land Development Division, Lexington County Public Works Stormwater Division (PW/SWD), Lexington County Community Development Department, Floodplain Management, South Carolina Department of Revenue, South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education, South Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a childcare centre need in Lexington County that other businesses do not?

1 of the 2 permits particular to a childcare centre here applies to no other business type we cover in Lexington County: Child Care Centre License.

Child Care Centre License

No fee, and the evidence is thorough — the licensing statute, the registration statute and all ten licensing regulations contain no dollar figure of any kind, and the department states plainly that no licensing or central registry fees are required. The term became three years for centres and group homes under a 2024 act, with the department issuing on the new basis from 2025; the regulation still says two years and simply lags the statute. Three regimes are easily confused: a private centre or group home holds a license, a publicly operated one holds an approval on the same three-year cycle, and a family child care home caring for no more than six children in the operator's own residence merely registers, for two years, though it may elect to be licensed where a federal programme requires it. A provisional license is available where violations do not seriously threaten health or safety, and the department's failure to act on a complete application within ninety days grants one automatically. Inspection is annual and unannounced, plus fire and health safety inspections. One useful cross-benefit: a licensed and inspected child care facility is exempt from the agriculture department's retail food inspection fee.

Shared with other businesses in Lexington County

  • Home Occupation Permit (unincorporated Lexington County) — Lexington County Community Development Department, Zoning, $90 per permit, as for a zoning permit: effective two years from approval, with five one-year extensions (Zoning Ordinance §171.10). Also required for salons and barbers, contractors and trades, retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the salons and barbers page.

The other 8 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Lexington County, SC; what each one involves is set out on the Lexington County permits page. The 4 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across SC and are covered on the SC state page.

How does a childcare centre compare with other businesses in Lexington County?

The closest match is a fitness studio, which shares 1 of these permits. A childcare centre also needs Child Care Centre License. A fitness studio needs nothing here that a childcare centre does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Lexington County, SC, compared with a childcare centre
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a childcare centreOnly a childcare centre needsOnly it needs
Fitness studios1110
Retail stores1110
Contractors and trades3112
Salons and barbers3112
Auto repair shops1021
Coffee shops2022
Food trucks2022
Restaurants2022
Veterinary clinics1021

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the salons and barbers page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Lexington County permits page and the SC state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. South Carolina Code chapter 63-13 — child care licensing, approval and registration, with the three-year term from 2024 Act 216South Carolina General Assembly · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. South Carolina Regulations 114-500 to 114-509 — child care licensing standards, containing no fee of any kindSouth Carolina Department of Social Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

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