What do these permits involve in Richland County?

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Richland County Business License (unincorporated Richland County)

Code §16-1, in the Richland County Code of Ordinances as published by American Legal Publishing (edition 2026 S-24, current), requires every person engaged in any calling, business, occupation or profession, "whether or not it is listed in the rate classification index portion of the Business License Fee Schedule, in whole or in part, within the unincorporated areas of the county", to apply for and obtain a business license, except as noted in §16-7. Under §16-6(1) a new business must have the license before operating in the unincorporated county, and under §16-6(4) and (5) no license is issued until all other county and state licenses and permits are obtained and the premises comply with the county's zoning, building, fire and related codes. The license year runs May 1 to April 30 (§16-3(2)) and the fee is due on or before May 1 (§16-4(1)). A separate license is needed for each place of business and each classification at one place (§16-4(2)), the tax is computed on gross income for the preceding year or, for a new business, on estimated income (§16-4(3)), and under §16-4(4) all minimum fees and rates are multiplied by 200 percent for nonresidents and itinerants with no fixed principal place of business in the county. The License Official determines each business's class (§16-5(2), §16-7(7)). The class schedule printed in Code §16-5(5), the 2023 schedule that applies until an updated Business License Class Schedule is adopted, names "Contractors, Construction (All Types)" as class 8.10 and NAICS 722330 "Mobile Food Services" as class 9.94. For contractors, the license fee on the full contract amount is paid before a building permit is issued or work begins (§16-5(5), class 8.10 note 3), and §16-7(4) excludes income from work for which a Richland County building permit fee was paid. The county's Business License page says application is in person: the business files the New Business License Application and the Business Clearance Form with the Business Service Center, "Zoning approval is required before a license can be issued", and Building Inspections (commercial locations or contractors) and the Fire Marshal (commercial locations) may also need to approve. The application states that "Email and Faxed applications are not accepted."

Business Clearance Form and Zoning Review Fee (unincorporated Richland County)

The county's Clearance Form (Revised 10.1.2024), linked as the "Business Clearance Form" from the current Business License page, documents that a business has received all approvals needed to operate each type of business activity, and states: "A $26.33 Zoning fee is required for each Clearance Form, along with any other applicable fees/taxes." The $26.33 figure is as printed on that county form. One form is completed for each business activity, and reasons for filing include a new or existing business, a change in physical location, a change in or addition of business activity or use, a change in ownership and an out-of-county contractor; the form notes that booth renters do not need to use it. The New Business License Application says a business located outside any city or town limits but within Richland County must submit a Clearance Form before a license can be issued. At Step 3 the Zoning Division reviews the location and activity (for an existing commercial site, against the prior use), and the form also carries sign-offs from Building Inspections, the Fire Marshal and the Sheriff's Department. A home-based business also completes the Home Occupation application. A business in a new commercial structure supplies a copy of its certificate of occupancy. At Step 4 the business returns the completed form to the Business Service Center and is told to "Be prepared to pay the Zoning Review Fee plus the business license fee."

Building Permit, Commercial Plan Review and Certificate of Occupancy

Under Code §6-3 the building chapter applies to the unincorporated areas of the county and to municipalities that agree with the council to be regulated by it. Section 6-43(a) states that no person shall construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or structure, or install electrical, gas or plumbing equipment regulated by the chapter, "without first obtaining from the building official a separate permit for each such building, structure, or installation." Section 6-43(d) adds that an entity that will employ or house more than 100 persons in a facility within the Emergency Planning Zone of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Plant must have an evacuation plan approved by the Richland County Emergency Services Department before any building permit is issued. Under §6-56(a) no new building may be lawfully occupied, and no change in occupancy made, until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy. The county's Commercial Plan Review page sets out the process: register on eTrakit, submit the site plan (reviews are completed within 30 calendar days), obtain a Land Disturbance Permit before any site work, apply for the building permit, pass the CBD Planning Final, CBD Fire Final (if applicable) and COMM Final inspections, and receive the certificate of occupancy in the online account. Under §6-50(b) fees are set in the county's annual budget ordinance; a fee schedule is not published on the county's building or plan review pages, so contact Building Permitting and Inspections (803-576-2140) for the amount for a project. Starting work before the permit doubles the fee (§6-50(f)).

Fire Marshal Inspection and Approval of Commercial Locations (unincorporated Richland County)

The county's Business License page lists the "Fire Marshal – commercial locations" among the approvals a business may need before the Business Service Center issues the license, and Step 3 of the Clearance Form carries a Fire Marshal sign-off marked "Meet onsite for inspection", with approval or disapproval recorded on the form or in the Fire Marshal's report. Code §16-6(5) requires that the premises comply with applicable fire codes before a business license application is submitted. The Fire Marshal's Fire Inspections page says the office conducts fire and life safety inspections for new and existing structures and reviews fire plans; an inspection is requested at least 48 hours in advance by phone or through the eTrakit portal. For new commercial buildings the inspector checks exit signs and emergency lights, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, extinguishers, fire-rated walls, address numbers at least 4 inches tall and fire truck access, and the owner receives a written report; "If everything is in order, you'll be Approved for Occupancy." A fee is not published on that page or on the Clearance Form; contact the Fire Marshal (803-576-3400) for any amount due.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Richland County Business License (unincorporated Richland County)	Richland County Business Service Center	A business license tax on gross income by rate class, set under Code §16-5. Section 16-5(1) has County Council adopt the latest Standardized Business License Class Schedule by ordinance, §16-5(4)(a) adjusts all rates for the Consumer Price Index every three years, and the class schedule printed in Code §16-5(5) is the 2023 schedule, which applies "Until the adoption of an updated Business License Class Schedule". Current dollar rates are not published on the county's Business License page or application; the Business Service Center (803-576-2287) calculates the amount due. Under §16-4(4), all minimum fees and rates are multiplied by 200 percent for nonresidents and for itinerants with no fixed principal place of business in the county.	license year May 1 to April 30, paid on or before May 1 (Code §16-3(2), §16-4(1)); a contractor's license for a specific construction project may, at the licensee's request, expire at the completion of the project (§16-3(3))	2026-10-19
Business Clearance Form and Zoning Review Fee (unincorporated Richland County)	Richland County Planning & Development Services – Zoning Division	$26.33 per Clearance Form, one form per business activity (Clearance Form, Revised 10.1.2024)	one form per business activity, completed before the business license is issued; a new form is filed for a new business, a change of location, a change in or addition of business activity, a change in ownership, or an out-of-county contractor	2026-10-19
Building Permit, Commercial Plan Review and Certificate of Occupancyonly if it applies to you	Richland County Building Permitting and Inspections	Under Code §6-50(b), permit fees are determined by County Council and set forth in the county's annual budget ordinance for the current fiscal year. A building fee schedule is not published on the county's Building Permits, Commercial Plan Review or Building Permitting and Inspections pages; contact Building Permitting and Inspections (803-576-2140) for the amount for a project. Under §6-50(f), where construction requiring a permit is begun before the permit is obtained, the permit fee is doubled.	per project; a certificate of occupancy is issued before a new building is occupied or a building's occupancy is changed	2026-10-19
Fire Marshal Inspection and Approval of Commercial Locations (unincorporated Richland County)only if it applies to you	Richland County Fire Marshal	A fire inspection fee is not published on the Fire Marshal's Fire Inspections page or on the Clearance Form; contact the Fire Marshal (803-576-3400) for any amount due.	before the business license is issued for a commercial location, and before a new building is occupied	2026-10-19

Business licenses and permits in Richland County, South Carolina

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