The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Newberry County - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Newberry County - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Newberry County, SC, issued by Newberry County - Building Department. Newberry County has published nothing specific to reroofing; its Building Department says "Many construction projects require approval and permits before work begins" and "When in doubt, contact us before you build," so call the Department (803-321-2662) before a reroof. Use the Newberry County Building & Zoning Permit Application, which asks for the contractor's licence number, the project description and the contract amount, and notes that "If description of project changes, a new permit will be needed." 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. Work started without a required permit pays a doubled permit fee and "may also result in a Stop Work Order". The Department serves the unincorporated County; confirm with it whether it issues permits for an address inside the City of Newberry or one of the towns.

Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Newberry County, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesnewberrycounty.gov2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishednewberrycounty.gov2026-09-26
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 criteriaPublishedNewberry 15.pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 6-9-10newberrycounty.gov2026-09-26
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
Newberry County, South Carolina (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
1512 Martin Street, Newberry, SC 29108
Contact
  • url: https://www.newberrycounty.gov/building-inspection
  • phone: 803-321-2662
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 40-59-240(D)). 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 this structure"; Section 40-59-270 states that the chapter "does not apply to a person licensed under Chapter 11" for that work.
  • county_level: Newberry County issues no contractor licence or registration of its own. The Building Department's Contractor License Limits page states: "Any individual who is engaging the services of a contractor must make sure that the contractor does indeed have a current South Carolina State License in the given discipline, and the license limit either meets or exceeds the contractual agreement," and warns: "Failure to meet these requirements will result in fines being imposed on the owner and contractor. This fine will include all court costs." The County's Building & Zoning Permit Application asks for the applicant or contractor's "License #" and the "Contract Amount". The Department's forms include the Residential Builders Commission owner-builder disclosure statement (Section 40-59-260) and a County owner-builder affidavit.
Permit process note
Newberry County has published nothing specific to reroofing; its Building Department says "Many construction projects require approval and permits before work begins" and "When in doubt, contact us before you build," so call the Department (803-321-2662) before a reroof. Use the Newberry County Building & Zoning Permit Application, which asks for the contractor's licence number, the project description and the contract amount, and notes that "If description of project changes, a new permit will be needed." 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. Work started without a required permit pays a doubled permit fee and "may also result in a Stop Work Order". The Department serves the unincorporated County; confirm with it whether it issues permits for an address inside the City of Newberry or one of the towns.
Adopted code
The Building Department's Currently Adopted Codes page (read on September 26, 2026, before the January 1, 2027 date set for implementing the 2024 edition) lists the "2021 International Residential Code", 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Mechanical, 2021 International Fuel & Gas Code, 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Fire Code, 2021 Plumbing Code, 2020 National Electric Code and ICC A117.1, and links a document labelled "2018 SC Modifications (see LLR for listing of modifications)", which is an older South Carolina statewide modifications index for the 2012 codes. The County's Building Codes Ordinance, which the Department's guidance refers to, sits in the County Code of Ordinances; its text, including any edition it names, was not read for this record. 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 roofing modification for Newberry 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
Newberry County publishes no roof-specific rule and no dollar, area or percentage threshold for roof work. The Building Department's answer to "When is a building permit required?" reads: "A permit is required any time you construct, enlarge, renovate, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the Building Codes Ordinance." Its main page says: "Many construction projects require approval and permits before work begins. We encourage property owners and contractors to contact the Building Department during the planning stages of a project. Our staff can help identify applicable requirements and determine which permits, plans, inspections, and approvals may be needed," and "When in doubt, contact us before you build." The Building Department fee schedule (Ordinance No. 09-23-2022 and the Forms and Fees page) is valuation based, "$50.00" for "$1,000 or less" and "$50.00 for the first $1,000 plus $10.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof" from $1,001 to $5,000, with no separate roofing line, and "If work requiring a permit is started before the required permit has been obtained, and the work is discovered by Newberry County, the applicable permit fee will be doubled."
Wind design criteria
115 mph. The Building Codes Council's approved wind and seismic map for Newberry County (2021 code cycle, drawn on the 2015 International Residential Code wind map) states: "Newberry County is totally within the 115 MPH Wind Speed." The same map draws a line across the county dividing Seismic Design Category B from Seismic Design Category C. The Council describes its county maps as "intended to be the primary source for defining the appropriate boundaries for wind and seismic design in South Carolina for single- and two-family dwellings." Newberry County publishes no climatic and geographic design criteria table of its own.
Sales & use tax
7% in unincorporated Newberry County: the 6% state sales tax plus a 1% Capital Projects tax, as SCDOR form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26), shows for "Unincorporated Newberry" (CP 1036). Every Newberry County municipality listed on that form (Little Mountain, Newberry, Peak, Pomaria, Prosperity, Silverstreet and Whitmire) is also shown at 7%, and SCDOR's local tax map effective May 1, 2026 shows Newberry County at 7% (CP). 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 Oconee County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Orangeburg County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Pickens County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Richland County, SCRoof permit Unincorporated Saluda County, SCRoof permit Roofing in South CarolinaState hub

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The Newberry County Building Department issues building permits, reviews plans and makes the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas inspections for construction in the unincorporated areas of Newberry County, South Carolina. Property inside the City of Newberry or one of the county's towns should be confirmed with the Department before applying, because this record does not establish which of them the County permits for.

Hail reports near the center of Newberry County, SC

Reports, last 24 months
3
Largest, last 24 months
1.75 in Apr 23, 2025
Most recent
Nov 8, 2025 1.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
4
4 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Nov 8, 20251.00 in7 mi NW
Apr 23, 20251.75 in8 mi ENE
Apr 23, 20251.00 in7 mi NW
May 6, 20222.00 in8 mi SSE

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

Working an insurance claim in Unincorporated Newberry 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 Newberry County, SC

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Newberry County, SC. Newberry County publishes no roof-specific rule and no dollar, area or percentage threshold for roof work. The Building Department's answer to "When is a building permit required?" reads: "A permit is required any time you construct, enlarge, renovate, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the Building Codes Ordinance." Its main page says: "Many construction projects require approval and permits before work begins. We encourage property owners and contractors to contact the Building Department during the planning stages of a project. Our staff can help identify applicable requirements and determine which permits, plans, inspections, and approvals may be needed," and "When in doubt, contact us before you build." The Building Department fee schedule (Ordinance No. 09-23-2022 and the Forms and Fees page) is valuation based, "$50.00" for "$1,000 or less" and "$50.00 for the first $1,000 plus $10.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof" from $1,001 to $5,000, with no separate roofing line, and "If work requiring a permit is started before the required permit has been obtained, and the work is discovered by Newberry County, the applicable permit fee will be doubled."

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

Yes.

What building code does Unincorporated Newberry County, SC use?

The Building Department's Currently Adopted Codes page (read on September 26, 2026, before the January 1, 2027 date set for implementing the 2024 edition) lists the "2021 International Residential Code", 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Mechanical, 2021 International Fuel & Gas Code, 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Fire Code, 2021 Plumbing Code, 2020 National Electric Code and ICC A117.1, and links a document labelled "2018 SC Modifications (see LLR for listing of modifications)", which is an older South Carolina statewide modifications index for the 2012 codes. The County's Building Codes Ordinance, which the Department's guidance refers to, sits in the County Code of Ordinances; its text, including any edition it names, was not read for this record. 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 roofing modification for Newberry 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.)