Greenville Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Greenville Building and Permit Center administers building permits, site-plan review, inspections, zoning permits, and construction-code compliance inside Greenville city limits. Greenville County Building Safety separately serves county-jurisdiction properties, so parcels outside the city should be checked with the county before using the city process.

Greenville building permits and permit status

The city prefers online submittal for building applications and construction plans. Its Online Permit Service Center lets the public view permit status and lets permit holders schedule inspections and make payments. The city says a site-plan permit is required before other building or construction-related permits for development or redevelopment of a structure or parcel within the city, subject to the city’s published rules.

Inspections, code compliance, and occupancy

Greenville requires permits for regulated building, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing work unless a stated exemption applies. Contractors should follow the inspection sequence on the permit and keep approved plans available on site. The city’s business-move guidance states that a Certificate of Occupancy is required after the building passes the applicable inspections, with a separate occupancy inspection for nonresidential use.

Zoning and plan review

Planning and zoning review includes site plans, residential development, subdivisions, signs, historic resources, variances, special approvals, and other permits under the city’s Land Management Ordinance. Projects adding impervious area may also trigger engineering or stormwater requirements. Properties outside city limits are not covered by the city’s zoning lookup and should be directed to Greenville County or another municipal authority.

Official contact information

The Building Codes and Codes Enforcement contact is listed at 204 Halton Road, Greenville, South Carolina 29607, with phone (864) 232-2273. The city also provides planning and development assistance at 131 Falls Street, Second Floor, phone (864) 467-4476. Use the city’s Building Permit Applications page to reach the current permit-status and inspection portal.