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Permitting Authorities / Town of Lexington - Planning & Building Department

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

Adopted code

Town of Lexington - Planning & Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Lexington, SC, issued by Town of Lexington - Planning & Building Department. Roof repair is a listed work type on the Town's Building Permit Application ("REPAIR ... Roof"). Complete the application and return it to the Town of Lexington's Department of Planning, Building, & Technology by email or by mail to 111 Maiden Lane; questions go to (803) 356-5938. The Town's Inspection Sheet states that "no online permits can be accepted at this time"; registered users can request inspections online, and the building inspection line is (803) 358-7267. "Work that is required to have a permit cannot be performed without posting the building permit" (Town Code Section 150.02(B)), and "Placards must be visibly posted on the job site." 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. In a Historic Special Overlay District, "A certificate of appropriateness is required before a building permit can be issued for the demolition, new construction, exterior alteration, modification or addition to property in a historic district" (Town Code Section 152.02.20), but the historic preservation rules do not "prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior architectural feature of historic structures within a designated historic district when that repair does not involve a change in design, material, color or outer appearance of the structure" (Section 152.02.21(G)). Property in unincorporated Lexington County is permitted by Lexington County, not by the Town.

Roof code checklist: Lexington, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeslexsc.gov2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlexsc.gov2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803library.municode.com2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedR301.2.1Lexington 15.pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 150.01library.municode.com2026-09-26
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
Town of Lexington, South Carolina
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
111 Maiden Lane, Lexington, SC 29072
Contact
  • url: https://www.lexsc.gov/871/Planning-Building
  • phone: 803-356-5938
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), and "all residential specialty contractors must be registered, by the commission" (Section 40-59-220(A)). When the cost of an undertaking for an individual property owner "exceeds five thousand dollars, the residential specialty contractor must obtain an executed bond" (Section 40-59-220). 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" and the structure is for the owner's or family's own 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.
  • city_level: The Town's Building Permit Application and Single-Family Dwelling permit application each ask for the applicant's "S.C. LLR license #" and its expiration date, and the Town's Sub-Contractor Verification Form asks for the "Roofing Contractor – Business Name & LLR License Number". These forms record the state credential; the Town's building chapter (Chapter 150 of the Town Code, read in full) sets no contractor licence or registration of its own. The Town's Owner-Builder Form carries a disclosure statement made "under the authority of" Section 40-59-260, stating that "You may not hire an unlicensed person as your residential builder or specialty contractor", and requires the owner to file a Public Record Notice with the Lexington County Register of Deeds on completion. Separately, the Town's New Development Guide states that "Every business, including individuals conducting business in the Town of Lexington — such as general contractors without an office in the town—must acquire a business license." The Town business licence is a general business licence, not a contractor credential.
Permit process note
Roof repair is a listed work type on the Town's Building Permit Application ("REPAIR ... Roof"). Complete the application and return it to the Town of Lexington's Department of Planning, Building, & Technology by email or by mail to 111 Maiden Lane; questions go to (803) 356-5938. The Town's Inspection Sheet states that "no online permits can be accepted at this time"; registered users can request inspections online, and the building inspection line is (803) 358-7267. "Work that is required to have a permit cannot be performed without posting the building permit" (Town Code Section 150.02(B)), and "Placards must be visibly posted on the job site." 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. In a Historic Special Overlay District, "A certificate of appropriateness is required before a building permit can be issued for the demolition, new construction, exterior alteration, modification or addition to property in a historic district" (Town Code Section 152.02.20), but the historic preservation rules do not "prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior architectural feature of historic structures within a designated historic district when that repair does not involve a change in design, material, color or outer appearance of the structure" (Section 152.02.21(G)). Property in unincorporated Lexington County is permitted by Lexington County, not by the Town.
Inspection requirements
The Town's Inspection Sheet lists the inspections for residential and commercial construction, including "FRAMING: Framing & wall bracing; Columns; Sheathing, Vapor barrier, Roofing, Flashing" and "FINAL". It does not say which of these apply to a reroof permit. Inspections are requested by voicemail on the building inspection line, (803) 358-7267, with "the permit #, address, and type of inspection ready", and "Inspections called in will be scheduled for the next business day the voicemail is left." "Re-inspection fees start at $58.40 and increase when multiple re-inspections are required."
Adopted code
Town of Lexington Code Section 150.01, Building codes administration (Ord. No. 2015-27, 9-8-2015), provides that "The Town of Lexington shall enforce the Building Code recognized, adopted and mandated by the State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Building Codes Council including Chapter 1, Scope and Administration." It names no edition. The Town's Inspection Sheet and its New Development Guide 2026 list the "2021 SC or International Residential Code with SC modifications" among the Town's current building codes. The Town's Owner-Builder forms still say that the Town's building inspectors "enforce and interpret the 2006 International Residential Code". Chapter 150 of the Town Code (four sections, read in full) amends no technical provision of the Residential Code. At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) 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 the Town of Lexington. 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.)
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the Town of Lexington's building chapter (Chapter 150 of the Town Code) 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 Town; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the Town's adopted code or its amendments.
Repair permit threshold
The Town of Lexington publishes no roofing threshold. Its Building Permit Application is to be used for work that includes "Repair", and its Repair section reads "If this permit is for Repair work please check which type" with "Roof" as the first box. The Town's New Development Guide 2026 states that "A building permit is required to: Construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure". Town Code Section 150.02(A) provides that "In addition to the exceptions listed in Section 105 of the International Building Code, the Building Official shall reserve the right to waive work of a minor nature wherein safety is not a concern from the requirements of obtaining a permit"; the Town publishes no application of that waiver to roof work. Permit fees follow the value of the work. Town Code Section 150.03 (fee schedule effective July 1, 2017) sets "$1,000 and less: No fee, unless inspection required in which case a $23 fee for each inspection shall be required" and "$23 for the first $1,000 plus $6.33 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000"; the New Development Guide 2026 prints a higher schedule ("$1,000 and less No fee unless inspection required, then $30.16"; "$1,000 to $50,000 $30.16 for first $1,000 plus $8.45 per thousand or fraction") and a residential plan review fee of "$30.16 per unit". Neither schedule has a separate roofing line.
Wind design criteria
The Town's building chapter (Chapter 150 of the Town Code, read in full) sets no design criteria of its own. The South Carolina modification to the 2021 Residential Code's wind section (Reg. 8-1202, Section R301.2.1) provides: "Buildings and portions thereof shall be constructed in accordance with the previously published maps by the South Carolina Building Codes Council. The local building official may delineate the wind design category within their jurisdiction provided that it does not surpass those provided on the Applied Technology Council (ATC) website." The Council's Lexington County map draws a single 115 mph wind speed line across the southern part of the county, from its southwestern boundary to its eastern boundary; the Town of Lexington lies north of that line, and the map shows no other wind speed line in the county. The map notes: "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(4A) of the 2015 International Residential Code." Confirm the design wind speed for the address with the Town's Building Official. The same state modification requires that "Asphalt shingles shall be designed for wind speeds in accordance with Section R905.2.4."
Roof layer limit / recover
Two layers maximum. 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. The South Carolina modifications to the 2021 Residential Code do not change the reroofing section, and the Town of Lexington's building chapter (Chapter 150 of the Town Code, read in full) adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base rule applies unmodified.
Deck & sheathing requirements
The Town of Lexington applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. Neither the Town's building chapter (Chapter 150 of the Town Code, read in full) nor the South Carolina modifications amend the roof sheathing provisions (Section R803), so the base Residential Code provisions on roof sheathing apply unmodified.
Sales & use tax
7% in the Town of Lexington: the 6% state sales tax plus the Lexington School District tax (SD, code 5320), per SCDOR form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26), which lists Lexington in Lexington County at a total tax rate of 7%. 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.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Lexington, South CarolinaCity hub

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The Town of Lexington Planning & Building Department approves building permits and inspects construction inside the Town of Lexington, South Carolina, and administers the Town's land use ordinances. It works from Town Hall at 111 Maiden Lane. Property in unincorporated Lexington County is permitted by Lexington County, not by this office.

Hail reports near Lexington, SC

Reports, last 24 months
2
Largest, last 24 months
2.00 in Sep 6, 2026
Most recent
Sep 6, 2026 2.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
33
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Sep 6, 20262.00 in6 mi W
Sep 6, 20261.25 in7 mi W
Jun 4, 20240.88 in2 mi SSW
Feb 23, 20240.70 in5 mi SE
Feb 23, 20240.50 in10 mi NW

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 Lexington, SC (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Lexington, 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).

NOAA storm reports show hail up to 2.00 in within 10 miles of Lexington, SC on September 6, 2026. If you are writing supplements for those roofs, the pack has this jurisdiction's code items with sources.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Lexington, SC

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Lexington, SC. The Town of Lexington publishes no roofing threshold. Its Building Permit Application is to be used for work that includes "Repair", and its Repair section reads "If this permit is for Repair work please check which type" with "Roof" as the first box. The Town's New Development Guide 2026 states that "A building permit is required to: Construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure". Town Code Section 150.02(A) provides that "In addition to the exceptions listed in Section 105 of the International Building Code, the Building Official shall reserve the right to waive work of a minor nature wherein safety is not a concern from the requirements of obtaining a permit"; the Town publishes no application of that waiver to roof work. Permit fees follow the value of the work. Town Code Section 150.03 (fee schedule effective July 1, 2017) sets "$1,000 and less: No fee, unless inspection required in which case a $23 fee for each inspection shall be required" and "$23 for the first $1,000 plus $6.33 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000"; the New Development Guide 2026 prints a higher schedule ("$1,000 and less No fee unless inspection required, then $30.16"; "$1,000 to $50,000 $30.16 for first $1,000 plus $8.45 per thousand or fraction") and a residential plan review fee of "$30.16 per unit". Neither schedule has a separate roofing line.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Lexington, SC?

Two layers maximum. 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. The South Carolina modifications to the 2021 Residential Code do not change the reroofing section, and the Town of Lexington's building chapter (Chapter 150 of the Town Code, read in full) adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base rule applies unmodified.

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

Yes.

What building code does Lexington, SC use?

Town of Lexington Code Section 150.01, Building codes administration (Ord. No. 2015-27, 9-8-2015), provides that "The Town of Lexington shall enforce the Building Code recognized, adopted and mandated by the State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Building Codes Council including Chapter 1, Scope and Administration." It names no edition. The Town's Inspection Sheet and its New Development Guide 2026 list the "2021 SC or International Residential Code with SC modifications" among the Town's current building codes. The Town's Owner-Builder forms still say that the Town's building inspectors "enforce and interpret the 2006 International Residential Code". Chapter 150 of the Town Code (four sections, read in full) amends no technical provision of the Residential Code. At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) 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 the Town of Lexington. 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.)