The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Chesterfield County - Building Codes Department

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC?

Adopted code

Chesterfield County - Building Codes Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC, issued by Chesterfield County - Building Codes Department. A reroof in unincorporated Chesterfield County needs a building permit: the County adopts the permit chapter of the International Residential Code, and the only dollar exemption in the Department's fee schedule is for building or repair work of $200 or less ("No Permit Required – unless inspection is required"). Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the permit fee. Apply through the County's online permitting system, which requires an account (https://evolve-public.infovisionsoftware.com/chesterfield/). For emergency work, the Department's permit sheet quotes IRC Section R105.2.1: "Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day to the building codes office." For inspections, the Department asks: "Please give at least a 24-hour notice. We do our best to accommodate everyone, but, please keep in mind that due to numerous job inspections, we are not able to schedule appointment times." Call 843-623-9615. State law requires the permit office to see evidence of the contractor's Residential Builders Commission registration or licence, or of an exemption, before it issues the permit; the Department's Contractor Verification Form asks for the contractor's licence number and its expiration date. The Department has published nothing on whether it issues permits inside the County's towns; confirm with the Department before applying for work inside a town.

Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYes1d4971_06072707f5294e03a2b39fc9d5...2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublished1d4971_06072707f5294e03a2b39fc9d5...2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803bbbea3_f147fc7218624cf89ebdf2e4b0...2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNobbbea3_f147fc7218624cf89ebdf2e4b0...2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedR301.2.1Chesterfield 15.pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 6-9-10bbbea3_f147fc7218624cf89ebdf2e4b0...2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYesscstatehouse.gov2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedST575.pdf2026-09-26

Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.

Jurisdiction
Chesterfield County, South Carolina (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
178 Mill Street, Chesterfield, SC 29709
Contact
  • url: https://www.chesterfieldcountysc.com/building-codes
  • phone: 843-623-9615
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Roofing is a named Residential Specialty Contractor classification of the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission: "Roofers: the installation, alteration and repair of materials common to the residential building industry that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks, including all accessories, flashing, valleys, gravel stops and roof insulation panels above the roof deck." A residential specialty contractor is one who contracts to do "construction work, repairs, improvement, or reimprovement which requires special skills and involves the use of specialized construction trades or craft, when the undertakings exceed five hundred dollars" (S.C. Code Section 40-59-20(7)), and "all residential specialty contractors must be registered, by the commission" (Section 40-59-220(A)). When the total cost of materials and labor for an undertaking for an individual property owner "exceeds five thousand dollars, the residential specialty contractor shall obtain an executed bond" (Section 40-59-220(D)). A residential builder, one who constructs or superintends the "construction, repair, improvement, or reimprovement of a residential building" when "the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars", must be licensed (Sections 40-59-20(6) and 40-59-220(A)). The permit office "shall refuse to issue a permit for an undertaking which requires licensure or registration under this chapter unless the applicant has furnished evidence that he is either licensed or registered in accordance with this chapter or exempt from the requirements of this chapter" (Section 40-59-280). Section 40-59-260 states that the chapter "does not apply to an owner of residential property who improves the property" where "the owner does the work himself, with his own employees, or with licensed contractors or registered entities or individuals", the structure is "intended for the owner's sole occupancy or occupancy by the owner's family and are not intended for sale or rent", and the general public does not have access to it; Section 40-59-270 states that the chapter "does not apply to a person licensed under Chapter 11" for that work.
  • county_level: Chesterfield County sets no contractor licence or registration of its own. The Department's Contractor Verification Form, sworn before a notary, has the contractor state that he has "been contracted to do the work" at the address for the named homeowner, check the trades involved (the list includes "Roofing"), and give a "License Number" and its expiration date. The Department's Disclosure Statement for an owner building under the Section 40-59-260(A) exemption states: "State law requires residential construction to be done by licensed residential builders and specialty contractors. ... You may not hire an unlicensed person as your residential builder or specialty contractor."
Permit process note
A reroof in unincorporated Chesterfield County needs a building permit: the County adopts the permit chapter of the International Residential Code, and the only dollar exemption in the Department's fee schedule is for building or repair work of $200 or less ("No Permit Required – unless inspection is required"). Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the permit fee. Apply through the County's online permitting system, which requires an account (https://evolve-public.infovisionsoftware.com/chesterfield/). For emergency work, the Department's permit sheet quotes IRC Section R105.2.1: "Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day to the building codes office." For inspections, the Department asks: "Please give at least a 24-hour notice. We do our best to accommodate everyone, but, please keep in mind that due to numerous job inspections, we are not able to schedule appointment times." Call 843-623-9615. State law requires the permit office to see evidence of the contractor's Residential Builders Commission registration or licence, or of an exemption, before it issues the permit; the Department's Contractor Verification Form asks for the contractor's licence number and its expiration date. The Department has published nothing on whether it issues permits inside the County's towns; confirm with the Department before applying for work inside a town.
Adopted code
Chesterfield County Ordinance No. 22-23-03 (adopted October 5, 2022) adopts the "2021 International Residential Code with SC modifications", together with the 2021 International Building, Existing Building, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes with SC modifications, the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code with SC modifications, and provides: "Chapter One of each the aforementioned Codes is hereby adopted and shall remain in effect without expiration unless and until repealed by ordinance." The ordinance recites that local governments, "including the County of Chesterfield, are required to enforce the building and technical codes as the same are adopted by the State of South Carolina." The Department's building-codes page links to the International Code Council's online copies of the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2021 South Carolina Residential Code. At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) requires every county to enforce the building codes the Building Codes Council adopts and provides that "The municipality or county shall enforce only the national building and safety codes provided in this chapter." The 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications (S.C. Code of Regulations 8-1200 et seq.) is the mandatory state residential code for permits applied for before January 1, 2027, the date the Building Codes Council set for local jurisdictions to implement the 2024 edition with South Carolina modifications (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 5, May 22, 2026). The Council's list of approved local modifications carries no modification for Chesterfield County. The one South Carolina change to the roofing chapter replaces the drip-edge section: "A drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges of asphalt shingle roofs where required by the manufacturer." (Reg. 8-1228, IRC Section R905.2.8.5.) Ordinance No. 22-23-03 and the County's earlier building-code ordinances (read in full, back to 1998) adopt the codes by reference and contain no roofing provision of their own.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither Chesterfield County Ordinance No. 22-23-03 (adopting the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications) nor the County's earlier building-code ordinances nor the South Carolina modifications to the 2021 International Residential Code amends the roofing chapter's impact provisions, and the Building Codes Council lists no approved modification for the County; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the County's adopted code or its amendments.
Repair permit threshold
Chesterfield County has no roofing-specific permit line; its only no-permit lines are dollar amounts that a full reroof exceeds. The Department's Permit Fee Schedule (dated July 1, 2021) reads, for "BUILDING / REPAIR": "$0 to $200 No Permit Required – unless inspection is required". From $201 to $1,000 the fee is $45.00, and from $1,000 to $50,000 it is "$45.00 for the first $1,000 plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000", and the schedule adds: "TO OBTAIN MINIMUM PERMIT FEE COST ADD $10.00 FOR RESIDENTIAL". Total valuation "shall be the greater of the actual contract price or an applicable amount based on the total square footage of the structure to be built multiplied times the square foot cost data" in the County's valuation table. County Council Ordinance No. 05-06-08 (adopted June 7, 2006) amended the County's permit fee schedule to read: "a building permit must be obtained if required by code or if the project cost is $2,000 (two thousand) or more. If the code does require a building permit, but the cost of the project is less than $2,000 (two thousand), a minimum fee of $25.00 (twenty-five) will be required. If the code does not require a building permit and the project cost is less than $2,000 (two thousand), then a building permit is not required." The Department's "What Type Work Requires a Permit?" sheet quotes IRC Section R105.1: "Any owner or owners agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application for required building permit." Its list of building work that does "NOT" require a permit (fences under 7 feet, detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet, retaining walls up to 4 feet, sidewalks and driveways, painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work, playground equipment, and low decks up to 200 square feet) names no roof work. Penalty: "Any person who commences any work on a building ... before obtaining the necessary permits shall have the permit fee for the project doubled."
Wind design criteria
South Carolina's modification to IRC Section R301.2.1 (Reg. 8-1202) provides that "Buildings and portions thereof shall be constructed in accordance with the previously published maps by the South Carolina Building Codes Council", and that "Asphalt shingles shall be designed for wind speeds in accordance with Section R905.2.4." The Council's wind and seismic map for Chesterfield County, one of the county maps the Council "approved the use of ... for the 2021 code cycle based on the 2015 International Residential Code", shows two wind-speed lines: one labelled "115 MPH" crossing the western part of the County past Mount Croghan and Jefferson, and one labelled "120 MPH" along the County's eastern edge near the Marlboro County line. Its note reads: "Wind speed, shown in miles per hour, applies at all points along the length of its corresponding (blue) line. Interpolation between wind speed lines is permitted by Figure R301.2(4)A of the 2015 International Residential Code." Confirm the design wind speed for the job's location with the Department.
Roof layer limit / recover
Chesterfield County states no layer limit of its own. The 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, bars a roof recover "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering", as well as where the existing roof or covering is water soaked or deteriorated to the point it is not an adequate base, or is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, and the South Carolina modifications to the 2021 IRC do not change the reroofing section. The County's building-code ordinances (Ordinance No. 22-23-03 and its predecessors) adopt the code by reference with no reroofing rule of their own, but the County's fee schedule refers to a codified "Article I, Section 10-4" that has not been found or read, so this record declares no local layer rule. Ask the Building Department before planning a recover.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Chesterfield County applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications (Ordinance No. 22-23-03). Neither that ordinance nor the County's earlier building-code ordinances (read in full) nor the South Carolina modifications amend the roof sheathing provisions (Section R803), so the base IRC provisions on roof sheathing apply unmodified.
Sales & use tax
8% in unincorporated Chesterfield County: 6% state sales tax plus the Chesterfield County Education Capital Improvement tax (code 5131) and Local Option tax (code 1013), per SCDOR form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26). The same form lists 8% for Cheraw, Chesterfield, Jefferson, McBee, Mount Croghan, Pageland, Patrick and Ruby. South Carolina taxes the roofer, not the homeowner's contract: Reg. 117-314.2 provides that building materials "when purchased by builders, contractors, or landowners for use in adding to, repairing or altering real property are subject to either the sales or use tax at the time of purchase", and its list of building materials names "roofing materials". Repair and replacement work are treated alike.

More roof permit pages in South Carolina

Unincorporated Clarendon County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Colleton County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Darlington County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Edgefield County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Fairfield County, SCRoof permit Roofing in South CarolinaState hub

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The Chesterfield County Building Codes Department issues building permits and makes the building inspections for work in unincorporated Chesterfield County. Permits are applied for through the County's online permitting system, which requires an account. The Department has published nothing on whether it also issues permits inside any town in the County, so confirm with the Department before applying for work inside a town.

Hail reports near the center of Chesterfield County, SC

Reports, last 24 months
0
Largest, last 24 months
None
Most recent
None in 24 months
Reports, last 5 years
5
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
May 10, 20241.75 in8 mi N
May 10, 20241.00 in8 mi NNE
Apr 16, 20240.25 in1 mi SE
Jul 23, 20230.25 in10 mi NNW
Jun 17, 20220.25 in9 mi NE

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database and daily storm reports (reports since the start of the current year are preliminary), within 10 miles of the center of Chesterfield County, SC. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

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Sources

Roofing questions: Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC. Chesterfield County has no roofing-specific permit line; its only no-permit lines are dollar amounts that a full reroof exceeds. The Department's Permit Fee Schedule (dated July 1, 2021) reads, for "BUILDING / REPAIR": "$0 to $200 No Permit Required – unless inspection is required". From $201 to $1,000 the fee is $45.00, and from $1,000 to $50,000 it is "$45.00 for the first $1,000 plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000", and the schedule adds: "TO OBTAIN MINIMUM PERMIT FEE COST ADD $10.00 FOR RESIDENTIAL". Total valuation "shall be the greater of the actual contract price or an applicable amount based on the total square footage of the structure to be built multiplied times the square foot cost data" in the County's valuation table. County Council Ordinance No. 05-06-08 (adopted June 7, 2006) amended the County's permit fee schedule to read: "a building permit must be obtained if required by code or if the project cost is $2,000 (two thousand) or more. If the code does require a building permit, but the cost of the project is less than $2,000 (two thousand), a minimum fee of $25.00 (twenty-five) will be required. If the code does not require a building permit and the project cost is less than $2,000 (two thousand), then a building permit is not required." The Department's "What Type Work Requires a Permit?" sheet quotes IRC Section R105.1: "Any owner or owners agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application for required building permit." Its list of building work that does "NOT" require a permit (fences under 7 feet, detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet, retaining walls up to 4 feet, sidewalks and driveways, painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work, playground equipment, and low decks up to 200 square feet) names no roof work. Penalty: "Any person who commences any work on a building ... before obtaining the necessary permits shall have the permit fee for the project doubled."

Can you roof over an existing roof in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC?

Chesterfield County states no layer limit of its own. The 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, bars a roof recover "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering", as well as where the existing roof or covering is water soaked or deteriorated to the point it is not an adequate base, or is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, and the South Carolina modifications to the 2021 IRC do not change the reroofing section. The County's building-code ordinances (Ordinance No. 22-23-03 and its predecessors) adopt the code by reference with no reroofing rule of their own, but the County's fee schedule refers to a codified "Article I, Section 10-4" that has not been found or read, so this record declares no local layer rule. Ask the Building Department before planning a recover.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC?

Yes.

What building code does Unincorporated Chesterfield County, SC use?

Chesterfield County Ordinance No. 22-23-03 (adopted October 5, 2022) adopts the "2021 International Residential Code with SC modifications", together with the 2021 International Building, Existing Building, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes with SC modifications, the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code with SC modifications, and provides: "Chapter One of each the aforementioned Codes is hereby adopted and shall remain in effect without expiration unless and until repealed by ordinance." The ordinance recites that local governments, "including the County of Chesterfield, are required to enforce the building and technical codes as the same are adopted by the State of South Carolina." The Department's building-codes page links to the International Code Council's online copies of the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2021 South Carolina Residential Code. At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) requires every county to enforce the building codes the Building Codes Council adopts and provides that "The municipality or county shall enforce only the national building and safety codes provided in this chapter." The 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications (S.C. Code of Regulations 8-1200 et seq.) is the mandatory state residential code for permits applied for before January 1, 2027, the date the Building Codes Council set for local jurisdictions to implement the 2024 edition with South Carolina modifications (State Register Vol. 50, Issue 5, May 22, 2026). The Council's list of approved local modifications carries no modification for Chesterfield County. The one South Carolina change to the roofing chapter replaces the drip-edge section: "A drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges of asphalt shingle roofs where required by the manufacturer." (Reg. 8-1228, IRC Section R905.2.8.5.) Ordinance No. 22-23-03 and the County's earlier building-code ordinances (read in full, back to 1998) adopt the codes by reference and contain no roofing provision of their own.