The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Lee County - Planning and Zoning Department

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

Adopted code

Lee County - Planning and Zoning Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Lee County, SC, issued by Lee County - Planning and Zoning Department. Apply to the Lee County Planning and Zoning Department, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse, Room 302, Bishopville (mailing address PO Box 309, Bishopville SC 29010; 803-484-5341), using the County's Building Permit Application, which the Department's page links to the County's online permitting system (Evolve). The Department's "Lee County Building Permits Required Information" sheet lists, under "ALL PERMITS", a deed plat approved by the Planning Department (Courthouse Room 302), a septic / sewer permit "If not pre-existing", an E911 address inquiry (Courthouse Room 301) and "PERMIT APPLICATIONS & FEES", and states that permits are issued for "ROOFING AND RE-ROOFING" among the permit types that apply. The sheet gives no separate instruction for a reroof, so ask the Department which listed items apply to your job. The Department's residential plan review sheet says "Please allow up to five days for residential plan review / permit issuance." 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 a permit. Property inside the City of Bishopville or the Town of Lynchburg may be permitted by another office; confirm with the Department which office issues the permit.

Roof code checklist: Lee County, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesLee County Building_Permits_Requi...2026-09-30
Repair permit thresholdPublishedLee County Building_Permits_Requi...2026-09-30
Layer limit / roof-overNot published
Deck & sheathingNot published
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNot published
Wind design criteriaPublishedLee County.pdf2026-09-30
Adopted codePublishedSec. 6-9-10leecountysc.org2026-09-30
Contractor license / registrationYesscstatehouse.gov2026-09-30
Sales & use taxPublishedST575.pdf2026-09-30

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
Lee County, South Carolina
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
PO Box 309, Bishopville, SC 29010
Contact
  • url: https://www.leecountysc.org/directory/departments___elected_officials/planning_and_zoning.php
  • phone: 803-484-5341
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 an independent contractor 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 or structure" when "the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars", must be licensed (Sections 40-59-20(6) and 40-59-220(A)). The building official or other authority that issues permits, for a municipality or county, "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" and the structure is intended for the owner's sole occupancy or the owner's family's occupancy and not for sale or rent, and Section 40-59-270 states that the chapter "does not apply to a person licensed under Chapter 11" for that work.
  • county_level: Lee County's Residential Building Plan Review Requirements sheet (updated 2018) asks for a "South Carolina Residential Builder or a General Contractor's License to apply for permit along with name, address, and telephone number of the company, & contractors email address" and a "Subcontractor's list with their applicable SC contractor's license number". The Department's "Lee County Building Permits Required Information" sheet lists "S.C LICENSED CONTRACTOR OR EXEMPTION" for residential new construction, additions and garages/storage, and for an owner building residential property states "OWNER MUST FILE NOTICE WITH THE CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE IN THE COURTHOUSE BEFORE APPLYING FOR PERMIT". It also states: "PERMITS ARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS. ANY CONTRACTOR OR OWNER THAT WISHES TO HAVE SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE LICENSED CONTRACTOR OR OWNER OBTAIN PERMTS MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN, NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT LISTING WHO MAY SIGN FOR THEM." These sheets ask for the state credential; the Department's documents set out no county contractor licence, bond or examination of their own.
Permit process note
Apply to the Lee County Planning and Zoning Department, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse, Room 302, Bishopville (mailing address PO Box 309, Bishopville SC 29010; 803-484-5341), using the County's Building Permit Application, which the Department's page links to the County's online permitting system (Evolve). The Department's "Lee County Building Permits Required Information" sheet lists, under "ALL PERMITS", a deed plat approved by the Planning Department (Courthouse Room 302), a septic / sewer permit "If not pre-existing", an E911 address inquiry (Courthouse Room 301) and "PERMIT APPLICATIONS & FEES", and states that permits are issued for "ROOFING AND RE-ROOFING" among the permit types that apply. The sheet gives no separate instruction for a reroof, so ask the Department which listed items apply to your job. The Department's residential plan review sheet says "Please allow up to five days for residential plan review / permit issuance." 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 a permit. Property inside the City of Bishopville or the Town of Lynchburg may be permitted by another office; confirm with the Department which office issues the permit.
Inspection requirements
Lee County uses a third party inspection company for all inspections except Fire Marshal inspections. The Department's page says: "Please call at least one day prior by 3pm to be placed on the inspection schedule. You may log in to Evolve or call 803-483-3196 to schedule your inspection." The Department's list "Required Inspections for New Structures and Additions" (dated 05/29/2024) covers new structures and additions, not reroofing. It names a temporary saw pole, footing, open floor, slab, rough in, temporary power and final inspection.
Adopted code
Lee County Council gave three readings to an "Ordinance to Adopt Various International and Standard Codes Relating to Inspection Activities of the County of Lee, South Carolina and Enforcement of Building Provision as Provided in Said Codes": first reading on June 13, 2023, second reading on June 27, 2023 following a public hearing, and third and final reading on July 11, 2023 (Council minutes of those dates). The ordinance text is not posted on the County's website, and the Council minutes and the Planning and Zoning Department's residential documents name no edition of the residential code, so the edition and any local amendments in that ordinance are not stated here. 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 notice states: "Only the modifications approved and listed on the Council's website are valid for use in the State", and the Council's list of approved local modifications carries no roofing modification for Lee 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.)
Repair permit threshold
The Planning and Zoning Department's one-page "Lee County Building Permits Required Information" sheet, linked from its page and read in full, states under "ALL PERMITS": "PERMITS WILL BE ISSUED FOR ALL THAT APPLY: BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GAS & MECHANICAL, ALTERATIONS, RENOVATIONS,ROOFING AND RE-ROOFING, ADDITIONS TO INCLUDE MANUFACTURED / MOBILE HOMES". The sheet names roofing and re-roofing as permit work and states no dollar, area or percentage threshold below which roof work is exempt. The permit fee schedule linked from the Department's page was not readable when this record was compiled, and the text of the County's ordinance adopting its building codes is not posted on the County's website, so this record states no fee and no exemption drawn from either. The Department's residential plan review sheet adds: "You are not permitted to begin work until a permit has been issued. If a job is started before a permit is issued it will result in a fine double the total permit cost."
Wind design criteria
The Building Codes Council's wind and seismic map for Lee County, one of the county maps the Council approved for the 2021 code cycle based on the 2015 International Residential Code, is captioned "LEE COUNTY" and draws a single wind speed line across the County, labeled "120 MPH" at both ends. The map's 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 determined by the AHJ as permitted by Figure R301.2(4)(A) of the 2015 International Residential Code." The map prints no other wind speed for the parts of the County on either side of that line, and its note leaves interpolation between wind speed lines to the authority having jurisdiction. The County's own Table R301.2(1) was not available to read, so this record states no County-adopted design wind speed beyond the Council's map.
Sales & use tax
8% in unincorporated Lee County: 6% state sales tax plus local taxes of 2% (Capital Projects tax, code 1031, and Local Option tax, code 1031), per SCDOR form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26). The City of Bishopville and the Town of Lynchburg are also listed at 8%. 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 by such builder, contractor, or landowner", and its list of building materials names "roofing materials". Repair and replacement work are treated alike.

More roof permit pages in South Carolina

Lexington, SCRoof permit Mauldin, SCRoof permit Moncks Corner, SCRoof permit Mount Pleasant, SCRoof permit Myrtle Beach, SCRoof permit Roofing in South CarolinaState hub

Related guides

Denver-Metro Roofing Permits Filing a Hail Insurance Claim Colorado Hail Season Prep Hiring a Contractor

The Lee County Planning and Zoning Department is, in its own words, "responsible for planning, permitting and code enforcement for the County" and "Issues building permits for all construction in the county". Lee County uses a third party inspection company for its inspections other than Fire Marshal inspections. The office is on the 3rd floor of the Courthouse in Bishopville, South Carolina. The City of Bishopville and the Town of Lynchburg are incorporated places inside the County; confirm with the Department that a property is in its jurisdiction before applying.

Hail reports near the center of Lee County, SC

Reports, last 24 months
0
Largest, last 24 months
None
Most recent
None in 24 months
Reports, last 5 years
1
Most recent report, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Feb 23, 20240.25 in4 mi N

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 Lee County, SC. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Lee 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).

Buy this jurisdiction's pack: $12 Delivered by email within minutes.

Questions about the Lee County, SC pack?

Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Sources

Roofing questions: Lee County, SC

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Lee County, SC. The Planning and Zoning Department's one-page "Lee County Building Permits Required Information" sheet, linked from its page and read in full, states under "ALL PERMITS": "PERMITS WILL BE ISSUED FOR ALL THAT APPLY: BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GAS & MECHANICAL, ALTERATIONS, RENOVATIONS,ROOFING AND RE-ROOFING, ADDITIONS TO INCLUDE MANUFACTURED / MOBILE HOMES". The sheet names roofing and re-roofing as permit work and states no dollar, area or percentage threshold below which roof work is exempt. The permit fee schedule linked from the Department's page was not readable when this record was compiled, and the text of the County's ordinance adopting its building codes is not posted on the County's website, so this record states no fee and no exemption drawn from either. The Department's residential plan review sheet adds: "You are not permitted to begin work until a permit has been issued. If a job is started before a permit is issued it will result in a fine double the total permit cost."

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

Yes.

What building code does Lee County, SC use?

Lee County Council gave three readings to an "Ordinance to Adopt Various International and Standard Codes Relating to Inspection Activities of the County of Lee, South Carolina and Enforcement of Building Provision as Provided in Said Codes": first reading on June 13, 2023, second reading on June 27, 2023 following a public hearing, and third and final reading on July 11, 2023 (Council minutes of those dates). The ordinance text is not posted on the County's website, and the Council minutes and the Planning and Zoning Department's residential documents name no edition of the residential code, so the edition and any local amendments in that ordinance are not stated here. 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 notice states: "Only the modifications approved and listed on the Council's website are valid for use in the State", and the Council's list of approved local modifications carries no roofing modification for Lee 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.)