county · Berkeley County · South Carolina

Berkeley County, South Carolina Building Permits & Zoning

Regulatory data for residential homebuilders and land developers

5.5

Friction Index Moderate Regulatory Environment

Permit Timeline

38 days

5-7 weeks

Total Fees Est.

$7,500

per residential lot

Impact Fees

$5,200

per lot

Permit Fee

$1,700

residential

Plan Review Fee

$600

per application

Delay Risk

30%

probability of delay

Zoning & Requirements

Overlay Districts

Permitted By-Right Uses

Permitting Requirements

✓ Building permit application with site plan and survey
✓ SCDHEC stormwater/land disturbance permit (>1 acre)
✓ Erosion and sedimentation control plan
✓ Berkeley County road encroachment permit
✓ SC OCRM permit (if near wetlands or tidal areas)
✓ Flood zone elevation certificate (if applicable)
✓ Septic approval from SCDHEC (if not on public sewer)
✓ Berkeley County Water and Sanitation connection permit
✓ Wetlands delineation (if applicable)
✓ Fire district review

Process Notes

Staffing & Operations

Third-fastest growing county in SC. Permit volumes exploding in Moncks Corner, Carnes Crossroads, and Nexton-adjacent areas. Berkeley County uses the IPermits online system. Backlog developing as residential construction outpaces staffing. Pre-application coordination recommended for projects >5 lots. County working to streamline review workflows.

Recent Changes

Nov 2025: Berkeley County adopted new impact fee schedule with transportation and recreation fees. School facility fees under review. County-wide FEMA map revision finalized Jan 2026 — some properties reclassified.

Rezone Probability

20%

Contact Information

Permit Office Phone

(843) 719-4060

Official Website

https://www.berkeleycountysc.gov/departments/planning-and-zoning

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