What do these permits involve in York County?

Question

Accepted Answer

Zoning Compliance Approval (unincorporated York County)

Zoning Code §155.1121(A) provides that, unless elsewhere exempted by the chapter, an applicant shall obtain zoning compliance approval before establishing a new conditional or special exception use; changing an existing use; reestablishing a use after a period of non-use of 180 days or more; constructing, moving, adding to or structurally altering a building or other structure; and constructing, enlarging, moving or replacing a sign. Section 155.262(A) adds that "Prior to a change in use or establishment of a new conditional, accessory, or temporary use, an applicant must receive zoning compliance approval." A business opening in or changing the use of premises in the unincorporated county therefore applies to the Zoning Administrator first. The fee is $100 for a non-residential application and $50 for a residential one, per the York County Code §31.01(A) land development fee schedule (last amended by Ord. 1323, passed March 6, 2023); the consolidated fee schedule adopted with the FY 2027 budget ordinance (third reading June 1, 2026) shows the same figures. The same table charges a temporary sign permit the zoning compliance fee and a permanent sign permit the building permit plus zoning compliance fees. The Zoning Code's mobile vending table (Table 155.718-1) answers "No" under "Zoning Compliance Required?" for mobile vending, which may operate on a privately owned lot in any zoning district under Subpart 5.4, with units not remaining on site overnight.

Building and Trade Permits and Commercial Plan Review (York County Building and Codes)

County Code §150.20 requires an owner 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 an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the code, to apply to the Building and Codes Division and obtain the required permit first. Under §150.25(D), when the county reviews plans for commercial construction the applicant pays a review fee equal to 50% of the building permit fee. The county's Commercial Permits page asks applicants to submit a Commercial Building Plan Review Application, to "allow two weeks for the review of your plan", and, once the plan is approved, to submit the Commercial Building Permit Application. The amounts are from the York County Code §31.01(A) land development fee schedule (last amended by Ord. 1323, passed March 6, 2023); the consolidated fee schedule adopted with the FY 2027 budget ordinance (third reading June 1, 2026) shows the same figures: $17 for $1,000 and under; $17 for the first $1,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof up to $50,000; $360 for the first $50,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $660 for the first $100,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000; and $2,660 for the first $500,000 plus $4 per additional $1,000 above that. Non-residential plan review is half of the permit fee, the initial inspection carries no fee, re-inspections are $100 non-residential and $50 residential, and a refund of an eligible permit is assessed a $30 processing fee.

Certificate of Occupancy (York County Building and Codes)

County Code §150.41(A) provides that upon completion of building or installation in accordance with approved plans, and after the final inspection, the Building and Codes Division shall issue a certificate of completion or occupancy, and §150.41(A)(1) states: "No new building shall be lawfully occupied and no change in occupancy of a building or part of a building shall be made until after a certificate of occupancy has been issued." Under §150.41(B) the building official may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy for a portion of a building that can safely be occupied before the whole is complete; it is valid only for the period stated on it, expires immediately if its conditions are not met by then, and on written application may be renewed for a period of not more than 90 days. No separate certificate of occupancy fee is published in the §31.01(A) land development fee schedule; the certificate follows the building permit and its inspections.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Zoning Compliance Approval (unincorporated York County)only if it applies to you	York County Planning and Development Services, Zoning	Zoning compliance (§31.01(A)): Non-residential $100; Residential $50. A temporary sign permit is charged the zoning compliance fee, and a permanent sign permit the building permit plus zoning compliance fees.	per approval, before the use, construction or sign it covers	2026-10-19
Building and Trade Permits and Commercial Plan Review (York County Building and Codes)only if it applies to you	York County Planning and Development Services, Building and Codes Division	By construction value (§31.01(A), Building/Electrical/Gas/Mechanical/Plumbing): $1,000 and under $17; $1,001 to $50,000: $17 for the first $1,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; $50,001 to $100,000: $360 for the first $50,000 plus $6 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; $100,001 to $500,000: $660 for the first $100,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; over $500,000: $2,660 for the first $500,000 plus $4 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. Non-residential plan review: half of the permit fee. Initial inspection: no fee; re-inspections $100 non-residential, $50 residential. Refund processing fee: $30.	per permit	2026-10-19
Certificate of Occupancy (York County Building and Codes)only if it applies to you	York County Planning and Development Services, Building and Codes Division	A separate certificate of occupancy fee is not published in the York County Code §31.01(A) land development fee schedule; contact the Building and Codes Division at (803) 909-7200 for any amount due. The certificate is issued by the Building and Codes Division after the final inspection of work under a building permit (§150.41(A)).	before occupancy of a new building or a change in occupancy; a temporary certificate is valid for the period stated on it and may be renewed for up to 90 days (§150.41(B))	2026-10-19

Business licenses and permits in York County, South Carolina

What are you opening in York County?

Permits that apply to every type of business in York County