18 published records
Business licenses and permits in North Charleston, South Carolina
Spans Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties; the city issues its own business license, building, sign, zoning, and fire permits directly regardless of county.
What are you opening in North Charleston?
- RestaurantsFull-service restaurants carry the densest permit load of any small business: food, fire, occupancy, waste, and usually alcohol.See the full permit list
- Coffee shopsCafés are permitted as food service establishments even where no cooking happens, and the plan review step catches most operators by surprise.See the full permit list
- Retail storesRetail is the lightest common permit load, but the sales tax permit and the certificate of occupancy are non-negotiable in every jurisdiction.See the full permit list
- Salons and barbersPersonal care is licensed at state board level as well as locally, so the shop license and the practitioner licenses are separate obligations.See the full permit list
- Food trucksMobile food is the one category with no certificate of occupancy — but it gains a commissary agreement, and the unit itself is inspected rather than the premises.See the full permit list
- Fitness studiosPrepaid memberships trigger state registration and often a surety bond, which catches operators who budgeted only for the fit-out.See the full permit list
- Childcare centresThe heaviest permit load of any small business: state agency licensing, per-person background checks, and a stricter fire standard than ordinary commercial use.See the full permit list
- Contractors and tradesLicensed at state board level rather than locally, and the only common category with no premises permits at all — the bond is usually the long pole.See the full permit list
- Auto repair shopsOrdinary commercial permitting plus an environmental layer: waste oil, solvents and stormwater are each registered separately.See the full permit list
- Veterinary clinicsA state facility permit, controlled substances registration at both state and federal level, and a medical waste manifest — none of which a general business license covers.See the full permit list
Permits that apply to every type of business in North Charleston
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permitonly if it applies to you | City of North Charleston Building and Development Services | $30.00 non-refundable application filing fee, plus $0.25 per amp for new or upgraded services, or $30.00 for additional circuits or alterations. Temporary pole, trailer pole or sign service: $30.00 with no filing fee. Electrical safety permit: $30.00. Re-inspection: $50.00 (non-refundable). Working without a permit carries a penalty of triple all permit fees. | commercial permits expire 180 days after issuance unless extended (City Code § 5-312) | 2026-10-09 |
| Plumbing Permitonly if it applies to you | City of North Charleston Building and Development Services | $30.00 non-refundable application filing fee, plus $3.50 per plumbing fixture; $6.00 per house sewer (new or repair); $6.00 per cesspool; $6.00 per septic tank, seepage tank or drain field; $3.50 per water heater; $6.00 for installation, alteration or repair of water piping or water-treating equipment; $6.00 for repair or alteration of drainage or vent piping; vacuum breakers or backflow protection devices $3.50 each for one to five and $2.00 each over five. Re-inspection: $50.00 (non-refundable). Working without a permit carries a penalty of triple all permit fees. | commercial permits expire 180 days after issuance unless extended (City Code § 5-312) | 2026-10-09 |
| Zoning Verification Letteronly if it applies to you | City of North Charleston Zoning Division | $10 flat | one-time, per verification request | 2026-09-08 |
| Commercial Building Permit | City of North Charleston Building and Development Services | For construction valued at $1,001 and above, each tier is the $30.00 application filing fee plus the tier amount (City Code Chapter 5, Appendix A Permit Fees Schedule): $15.00 for the first $1,000 plus $5.00 per additional thousand (or fraction) up to $50,000; $260.00 for the first $50,000 plus $4.00 per additional thousand up to $100,000; $460.00 for the first $100,000 plus $3.00 per additional thousand up to $500,000; $1,660.00 for the first $500,000 plus $2.00 per additional thousand above that. Plan review is 50% of the permit fee. Re-inspection is $50.00. Working without a permit triples the applicable fee. | one-time, per project | 2026-09-08 |
| Business License (Business License Tax) | City of North Charleston One Stop Shop, Finance Department | Annual business license tax on gross income under City Code § 10.5-40, Appendix A: a base rate on gross income of $0 to $2,000, plus a rate per $1,000 (or fraction) over $2,000. Class 2 (NAICS 722, food services and drinking places, which includes restaurants, coffee shops and mobile food services) $40.00 + $1.75; Class 3 (NAICS 62 health care and social assistance, NAICS 71 arts, entertainment and recreation, and NAICS 81 other services, which includes personal care and automotive repair) $45.00 + $2.05; Class 4 (NAICS 54 professional, scientific and technical services, which includes veterinary services, NAICS 541940) $50.00 + $2.35; subclass 8.1 contractors (NAICS 23, all construction) $55.00 + $1.60. Retail trade (NAICS 44-45) is Class 1 in the Appendix B class schedule. For gross income over $1,000,000, each additional $1,000 is taxed at a declining percentage of the class rate: 90% from $1 to $2 million, 80% from $2 to $3 million, 70% from $3 to $4 million, 60% from $4 to $250 million, 5% from $250 to $7,500 million and 0.1% above that. All taxes and rates are doubled for nonresidents and itinerants having no fixed principal place of business within the City, and contractors without a permanent place of business in the City pay the non-resident rate. | annual — the license year runs May 1 to April 30 (City Code § 10.5-18); the tax is due on or before April 30 each year (§ 10.5-19) | 2026-10-09 |
| Mechanical Permitonly if it applies to you | City of North Charleston Building and Development Services | $30.00 non-refundable application filing fee, plus for heating and ventilating duct work $10.00 for the first $1,000 of value and $2.00 for each additional $1,000 of value or fraction. Boilers by BTU input: 33,000 to 165,000 BTU $5.00; 165,000 to 330,000 BTU $10.00; 330,001 to 1,165,000 BTU $15.00. Re-inspection: $50.00 (non-refundable). Working without a permit carries a penalty of triple all permit fees. | commercial permits expire 180 days after issuance unless extended (City Code § 5-312) | 2026-10-09 |
| Variance / Special Exception / Appeal of Staff Determinationonly if it applies to you | City of North Charleston Zoning Division | $100 per application | one-time, per application | 2026-10-09 |
| Fire Protection System and Construction Fire Permitsonly if it applies to you | North Charleston Fire Department, Fire Marshal's Office | The Fire Department's Fire Permits page publishes no fee amount; it states that after plan approval the applicant receives an approval letter and an invoice, which is paid at the Finance Department before the permit is issued. | per project | 2026-10-09 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
What do these permits involve in North Charleston?
Electrical Permit
Fee figures are from the Permit Fees Schedule in Appendix A to Chapter 5 of the City Code (Ord. No. 2019-008, adopted February 14, 2019), and the City's Electrical Permit page prints the same figures. Under § 5-33(a)(3), all electrical work may only be permitted in the name of an appropriately licensed contractor or subcontractor, and the Electrical Permit page states that only a licensed electrician or residential home builder can obtain an electrical permit and that no permit is issued on an expired state contractor license. The page also states that the fee chart does not include the City business license fee.
Plumbing Permit
Fee figures are from the Permit Fees Schedule in Appendix A to Chapter 5 of the City Code (Ord. No. 2019-008, adopted February 14, 2019); the City's Plumbing Permit page prints the same schedule, and where its backflow-device lines are worded differently the code text is used here. Under § 5-33(a)(3), plumbing work may only be permitted in the name of an appropriately licensed contractor or subcontractor. The Plumbing Permit page states that any work on the sewer needs an additional permit from the North Charleston Sewer District, a separate body, and that the fee chart does not include the City business license fee.
Zoning Verification Letter
Confirms a specific parcel's zoning allows the intended business use before a lease is signed or a license applied for; requested through the city's online Customer Portal. Distinct from a Rezoning Application ($100 flat fee), which is a separate, far less commonly needed process for a parcel whose zoning does not already permit the intended use.
Commercial Building Permit
For valuation of $1,000 or less, the city's own pages disagree: the commercial and new-residential permit pages both state a flat $30.00 non-refundable filing fee, while the general permit-fees summary page states no fee applies unless an inspection is required, in which case it is $15.00 per inspection. This bottom-tier conflict is unresolved between two official city pages and is disclosed rather than picked; confirm with Building and Development Services (843-740-2562) for a project at or under $1,000 in value. Neither city page states an effective/last-revised date for this schedule.
Business License (Business License Tax)
Rates and rules are from the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10.5, Article II, as codified on Municode in Supplement No. 76 (through Ord. No. 2026-022, adopted June 25, 2026). The Appendix B class schedule (2025 Class Schedule) was replaced by Ord. No. 2025-048, ordained December 11, 2025 and effective for the license year beginning May 1, 2026; the signed ordinance is posted by Charleston County Revenue Collections, which handles North Charleston license renewals. Under § 10.5-20(a) a new business must hold the license before operating in the City, and under § 10.5-20(e) no license is issued until the applicant submits documents showing compliance with the zoning ordinance and the building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing and other codes. The City's Business Licenses page states that businesses within commercial structures need a fire inspection to receive a business license. Under § 10.5-19(b) a separate license is required for each place of business and each classification; a new business is taxed on its estimated gross income for the rest of the license year, and a contractor may license per construction project. Subclass 8.1 contractors must first meet all state and City examination and trade-license requirements and file the bonds the building code requires. A bar (NAICS 722410) is subclass 9.7 at $55.00 + $1.60, and that license must be issued in the name of the individual holding the state alcohol, beer or wine permit.
Mechanical Permit
Fee figures are from the Permit Fees Schedule in Appendix A to Chapter 5 of the City Code (Ord. No. 2019-008, adopted February 14, 2019); the City's Mechanical Permit page prints the same filing, duct and boiler figures, and both list boiler amounts up to 1,165,000 BTU input. Under § 5-33(a)(3), mechanical work may only be permitted in the name of an appropriately licensed contractor or subcontractor, and the Mechanical Permit page states that only a licensed classified plumber, mechanical contractor, homeowner or residential home builder can obtain a mechanical permit.
Variance / Special Exception / Appeal of Staff Determination
The $100 figure is the 'Variance / Special Exception / Appeal of Staff Determination' line of the Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule in Zoning Ordinance § 7-9, as amended by Ord. No. 2026-022, adopted June 25, 2026. It applies only when a business needs a variance or special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals, or appeals a staff determination, for its site. The same schedule lists the $10 Zoning Verification Letter and the $100 rezoning fee.
Fire Protection System and Construction Fire Permits
The Fire Department's Fire Permits page states that the Fire Inspection Bureau issues permits for fire sprinkler, fire alarm, standpipe, fire pump, fire service underground, hood suppression and specialized suppression systems (typically all fire and life safety systems in a building), in addition to new commercial buildings, interior up-fits, solar panels and tents or canopies. Plans are submitted online and reviewed typically within 14 business days, or 5 business days for simple tent, canopy or minor special event permits. A stamped approval must be kept on the job site for the final inspection.
Sources
Every figure in the table above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- City of North Charleston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5 — Buildings and Building Regulations (§ 5-33, § 5-312 and Appendix A Permit Fees Schedule, Ord. No. 2019-008)City of North Charleston (published by Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston — Electrical PermitCity of North Charleston, Building and Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston — Plumbing PermitCity of North Charleston, Building and Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston — Zoning, including the Zoning Verification Letter and Rezoning Application feesCity of North Charleston, Zoning Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08
- City of North Charleston — Commercial Building PermitCity of North Charleston, Building and Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08
- City of North Charleston — Permit Fees (commercial and residential valuation-tiered schedule)City of North Charleston, Building and Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-08
- City of North Charleston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10.5, Article II — Business Licenses (§§ 10.5-16 to 10.5-40, incl. Appendix A rate schedule and Appendix B class schedule; Supp. No. 76, codified through Ord. No. 2026-022)City of North Charleston (published by Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston Ordinance No. 2025-048 (business license class schedule, ordained December 11, 2025) with Ord. No. 2023-062 and Ord. No. 2021-080, as posted by Charleston County Revenue CollectionsCharleston County Revenue Collections Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston — Business LicensesCity of North Charleston, Finance Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston — Mechanical PermitCity of North Charleston, Building and Development Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- City of North Charleston Zoning Ordinance (Code Appendix A), Section 7-9 — Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule (Ord. No. 2026-022, Exh. A, adopted June 25, 2026)City of North Charleston (published by Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- North Charleston Fire Department — Fire PermitsNorth Charleston Fire Department, Fire Inspection Bureau · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
Who issues business permits in North Charleston?
Permitting in North Charleston is split across 6 agencies we hold records for, with tax registration handled at state level. No single office issues everything, which is why an opening usually means filing in several places rather than one.
North Charleston issuing agencies
- City of North Charleston Building and Development ServicesCommercial building permits · Sign permits · Certificates of occupancy8 permits
- City of North Charleston Zoning DivisionZoning verification letters · Rezoning applications4 permits
- City of North Charleston One Stop Shop, Finance DepartmentBusiness licenses2 permits
- North Charleston Fire Department, Fire Marshal's OfficeFire plan review and permitting · Mobile food vendor fire permit2 permits
- City of North Charleston Hospitality Tax (City Code § 19-105)Hospitality (food and beverage) tax on prepared meals and beverages1 permit
- City of North Charleston Public Works DepartmentEncroachment permits for City roads and City-maintained easements1 permit
Other South Carolina jurisdictions we cover
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.