Spartanburg building department

The City of Spartanburg Building Inspections Department issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, demolition, grading, street-cut, fire alarm, sprinkler, fire suppression, and building-moving permits inside the City of Spartanburg. The Building Permits page says applications are only accepted for property within city limits. Unincorporated Spartanburg County parcels go through the county’s separate residential construction permitting process.

How to apply

Most permits are applied for through online forms in the city’s Form Center, where signing in auto-fills your details on later applications. Forms include:

• Residential new construction (single-family or duplex)
• Residential updates (remodels and alterations)
• Commercial building
• Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and temporary power pole permits
• Swimming pool, site grading, erosion control, and demolition permits
• Permit time extension, permit cancellation, and Certificate of Occupancy forms

Since June 2023 the city has asked that all commercial plan reviews be submitted electronically through its ePlanSoft portal (gopost-spartanburg.eplansoftreview.com). Building permit fees are paid online through the city’s SC.gov checkout page. The Building Permits page also links a residential wood deck construction guide, a typical dwelling plot plan, and a hold harmless agreement. Issued permits, single-family permits, and Certificates of Occupancy are posted as public lists in the city’s Document Center.

New single-family homes

The new-construction application asks for:

• a plat or plot plan showing the house footprint and its distances to property lines
• sewer tap and water capacity fee receipts from Spartanburg Water
• a signed erosion control form
• the owner-builder disclosure statement, if applicable

The contractor must list an SC LLR license number and hold a current City business license before the permit is processed. The builder is responsible for repairing any sidewalk or street damage and removing debris when the job is done.

Fees

The city’s current fee schedule took effect in July 2023 under Section 5-1 of the City Code. The minimum permit fee is $50, and it also applies to plan review. Plan review fees apply to all new buildings, additions, and alterations that require plans, and are paid when you submit.

Project valuation	Building permit fee
$0 to $999.99	$50
$1,000 to $49,999.99	$17.25 for the first $1,000 plus $5.75 per additional $1,000 ($50 minimum)
$50,000 to $99,999.99	$299 for the first $50,000 plus $4.60 per additional $1,000
$100,000 to $499,999.99	$529 for the first $100,000 plus $3.45 per additional $1,000
$500,000 and up	$1,909 for the first $500,000 plus $2.50 per additional $1,000

For homes, additions, and commercial buildings, the city checks the stated valuation against the current ICC Valuation Schedule and raises it if it looks too low. Other published charges:

• Re-inspection: $50, due within five working days or the job is shut down
• Certificate of Occupancy: $50
• Moved structure: $115
• Demolition: valuation-based or $57.50, whichever is higher
• Temporary power pole: $17.25 per pole ($50 minimum)
• Street cut or encroachment: $75 or the valuation fee
• Appeals to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals: $57.50

Starting work before getting a permit doubles the fee. A permit with no inspection in six months becomes void. Separate trade fee schedules are posted for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. See building permit cost.

Adopted codes

Effective January 1, 2023, the city enforces:

• the 2021 International Building, Residential, Fire, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, and Property Maintenance Codes
• the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code
• the 2020 National Electrical Code
• ICC A117.1 for accessibility

Owner-builders

The city’s disclosure statement follows S.C. Code Section 40-59-260. An unlicensed owner may build, alter, or improve a one- or two-family home for their own occupancy, not for sale or rent. Selling or renting within two years of completion creates a presumption that it was built for sale. Owner-builders may not hire unlicensed builders or specialty contractors. You must record a notice with the Spartanburg County Register of Deeds (366 N. Church Street). If you don’t, you lose the exemption.

Inspections and Certificates of Occupancy

Inspectors are listed in the Building Inspections staff directory with direct numbers, including electrical, mechanical, and senior building inspectors. Inspections beyond those listed on the permit job card are billed as re-inspections. That includes calling before the work is ready or failing to give access.

A building or space may not be occupied without a current CO issued in the tenant’s name. CO inspections need 24 hours’ notice. Call Building Inspector Eric Lindsey at (864) 580-5324. CO inspections happen only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 5 p.m. The life-safety inspection checks:

• exit signs and emergency lights
• fire extinguishers
• electrical panels
• ADA access and egress

The Planning inspection must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance.

Planning, zoning, signs, and fences

The fee schedule sends sign and fence permits to the Planning Department. Fence permit fees match the building permit fee and the fence must meet zoning rules. Signs need plan review, plus an electrical permit if illuminated. Planning also handles zoning permits, site-plan review, historic district approvals, and board applications under the Zoning Ordinance and Downtown Code. Planning is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone (864) 596-2068, email [email protected].

Contact

• Building Inspections: 440 S Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306
• Phone: (864) 596-2041. Fax: (864) 596-2833. Email: [email protected]
• Building Official: B.A. (Buddy) Bush, (864) 596-2111
• Senior Permit Specialist: John Florek, (864) 596-2830
• Mailing address: PO Box 1749, Spartanburg, SC 29304