The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Town of Port Royal - Building Department

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

Adopted code

Town of Port Royal - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Port Royal, SC, issued by Town of Port Royal - Building Department. Apply to the Permits Administrator at 843-986-2219 with the Town's Residential Building Permit Application, in person at Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, by mail to Town of Port Royal, Attn: Permit Administrator, PO Drawer 9, Port Royal, SC 29935, or by email. The application asks for the contractor's SC State License Number and Port Royal License Number, the total project cost and a scope of work. The Town's submittal requirements state that "All contractors and subcontractors must obtain a South Carolina Contractor's license and a Town of Port Royal Business License", and that a permit "expires if the described work has not begun within 6 months of the date of issuance or no inspections have been done in 180 days." The prime contractor signs a Statement of Understanding and files a subcontractor list, which has a "ROOFING" line; if the project is considered "minor", "subcontractors shall be listed prior to permit being issued and all licenses verified." Fees are paid in advance and are set by the value of the work. A homeowner who owns and lives in the home and does the work himself may be issued a permit, using the Beaufort County Unlicensed Residential Builder's Disclosure Statement (filed with the County Register of Deeds, filing fee $25). The Town's Development Code separately provides that "No permit shall be issued for new development nor for any exterior improvements or changes to existing development subject to the requirements of this Article without receiving Development Design Review approval" (Section 8.2.60); it exempts single-family detached homes in the T1, T2 and T3 zones from its architectural standards.

Roof code checklist: Port Royal, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesportroyal.org2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedR105.2portroyal.org2026-09-26
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 criteriaPublishedR301.2.1Beaufort 15(Mays).pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 4-1(a)library.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 Port Royal, South Carolina
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal, SC 29935
Contact
  • url: https://www.portroyal.org/161/Building-Department
  • phone: 843-986-2219
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 whose 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 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)). A residential builder, one who undertakes residential construction, repair or improvement "when the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars", must be licensed. 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" of licensure, registration or exemption (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 or registered contractors, for the owner's or the owner's family's sole occupancy, not for sale or rent; 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 adds no contractor credential of its own. Its submittal requirements state that "All contractors and subcontractors must obtain a South Carolina Contractor's license and a Town of Port Royal Business License", and its permit application asks for both numbers. The Town's FAQ lists "A Town of Port Royal Business License is required" and a South Carolina State License for a "Specialty Contractor (Residential work only; not to exceed $4,999.99 or be bonded through SC Labor, Licensing, and Regulations [LLR])". Under Section 12-40 of the Code of Ordinances, "No contractor shall be issued a business license until all state and municipal qualification examination and trade license requirements have been met", and "Sub-contractors shall be licensed on the same basis as general or prime contractors for the same job." The business licence is a general business licence, not a contractor credential. A homeowner acting as their own contractor files the Beaufort County Unlicensed Residential Builder's Disclosure Statement with the County Register of Deeds (filing fee $25, per the form).
Permit process note
Apply to the Permits Administrator at 843-986-2219 with the Town's Residential Building Permit Application, in person at Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, by mail to Town of Port Royal, Attn: Permit Administrator, PO Drawer 9, Port Royal, SC 29935, or by email. The application asks for the contractor's SC State License Number and Port Royal License Number, the total project cost and a scope of work. The Town's submittal requirements state that "All contractors and subcontractors must obtain a South Carolina Contractor's license and a Town of Port Royal Business License", and that a permit "expires if the described work has not begun within 6 months of the date of issuance or no inspections have been done in 180 days." The prime contractor signs a Statement of Understanding and files a subcontractor list, which has a "ROOFING" line; if the project is considered "minor", "subcontractors shall be listed prior to permit being issued and all licenses verified." Fees are paid in advance and are set by the value of the work. A homeowner who owns and lives in the home and does the work himself may be issued a permit, using the Beaufort County Unlicensed Residential Builder's Disclosure Statement (filed with the County Register of Deeds, filing fee $25). The Town's Development Code separately provides that "No permit shall be issued for new development nor for any exterior improvements or changes to existing development subject to the requirements of this Article without receiving Development Design Review approval" (Section 8.2.60); it exempts single-family detached homes in the T1, T2 and T3 zones from its architectural standards.
Inspection requirements
Inspections are requested at 843-986-2236; the Town's Inspections Required checklist (revised 10/24) says to call "BEFORE 4PM TO REQUEST A NEXT DAY INSPECTION", and requests are to include the permit number, address, type of inspection and date needed. The checklist lists a "Roof" inspection among its miscellaneous items, and the Town's Building Codes Inspection Report (revised 07/10/25) lists a "Re-Roof Final" inspection. A "$50.00 RE-INSPECTION FEE REQUIRED ON ALL RE-INSPECTIONS", and the fee "MUST BE PAID PRIOR TO NEXT INSPECTION."
Adopted code
Section 4-1(a)(7) of the Town's Code of Ordinances (last amended by Ordinance No. 2022-21, December 14, 2022) adopts the "International Residential Code, 2021 Edition published by the International Code Council, Inc. with South Carolina Building Code modifications and Appendix", so that "all building construction, reconstruction, alteration and repairs and all materials and appliances used in connection with building work shall conform thereto", alongside the 2021 International Building Code and the 2021 International Existing Building Code. The Town's 2026 residential permit package states that "The Town of Port Royal has adopted" the "International Residential Code, 2021 edition with South Carolina Modifications." Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances, read in full, contains no technical amendment to the roofing chapter. At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) requires every municipality 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 Port Royal. 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's building code chapter (Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances, Section 4-1, adopting the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications) 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 publishes no dollar, area or percentage floor below which roof work escapes a permit, and no exemption that names roofing. Its Building Permits FAQ states: "A permit is required for most work / improvements (excluding some interior remodeling including painting, doors, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work)", and that a building permit is needed by "Any owner or contractor constructing a new building or making alternations to existing buildings." The Town's building code chapter (Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances) adopts the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications without changing its permit provisions (Sections R105.1 and R105.2). The fee schedule printed in the Town's 2026 residential permit package (Ordinance 2015-20) starts at "$1000 or less" ($30, plus a $30.00 non-refundable application filing fee on all permits), and provides that "Where work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fee herein specified shall be doubled." The Town's inspection report form carries a "Re-Roof Final" inspection, and its subcontractor list has a "ROOFING" line.
Wind design criteria
140 mph, from the Building Codes Council's wind and seismic map for Beaufort County. South Carolina's Reg. 8-1202 (IRC Section R301.2.1) requires buildings to be "constructed in accordance with the previously published maps by the South Carolina Building Codes Council" and provides that "Asphalt shingles shall be designed for wind speeds in accordance with Section R905.2.4." The Council's Beaufort County map, "based upon the the 2015 South Carolina Residential Code and a report to the South Carolina Building Codes Council by Dr. Timothy Mays dated 6/30/2016", draws its 140 mph wind speed line along the west side of Port Royal Island, so the Town of Port Royal, at the island's south end, lies on the seaward side of the 140 mph line (a 130 mph line crosses the county's northwest corner). The Town has published no design-criteria table of its own.
Roof layer limit / recover
Two layers maximum. The 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, provides that "A roof recover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur", including "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering", where the existing roof or covering is water soaked or deteriorated to the point it is not an adequate base, and where the existing covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile. The South Carolina modifications to the 2021 IRC do not change the reroofing section, and the Town's building code chapter (Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances, read in full) adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base rule applies unmodified.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Port Royal applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. Neither the Town's building code chapter (Chapter 4 of the Code of 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
6% in the Town of Port Royal: the 6% state sales tax, with "No Local Tax Imposed" for Port Royal (Beaufort County) in SCDOR form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26). 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.

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The Building Department of the Town of Port Royal issues building permits and performs inspections during construction and on completion for work inside the town limits. Permit applications are taken by the Permits Administrator in person at Town Hall, 700 Paris Avenue, by mail or by email.

Hail reports near Port Royal, SC

Reports, last 24 months
3
Largest, last 24 months
0.88 in May 25, 2025
Most recent
May 25, 2025 0.88 in
Reports, last 5 years
6
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
May 25, 20250.88 in7 mi NNW
May 25, 20250.75 in7 mi NNE
May 8, 20250.75 in6 mi WNW
May 19, 20241.50 in7 mi NNE
May 19, 20241.00 in8 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 Port Royal, SC (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Port Royal, SC

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Port Royal, SC. The Town publishes no dollar, area or percentage floor below which roof work escapes a permit, and no exemption that names roofing. Its Building Permits FAQ states: "A permit is required for most work / improvements (excluding some interior remodeling including painting, doors, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work)", and that a building permit is needed by "Any owner or contractor constructing a new building or making alternations to existing buildings." The Town's building code chapter (Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances) adopts the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications without changing its permit provisions (Sections R105.1 and R105.2). The fee schedule printed in the Town's 2026 residential permit package (Ordinance 2015-20) starts at "$1000 or less" ($30, plus a $30.00 non-refundable application filing fee on all permits), and provides that "Where work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fee herein specified shall be doubled." The Town's inspection report form carries a "Re-Roof Final" inspection, and its subcontractor list has a "ROOFING" line.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Port Royal, SC?

Two layers maximum. The 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed, provides that "A roof recover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur", including "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering", where the existing roof or covering is water soaked or deteriorated to the point it is not an adequate base, and where the existing covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile. The South Carolina modifications to the 2021 IRC do not change the reroofing section, and the Town's building code chapter (Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances, 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 Port Royal, SC?

Yes.

What building code does Port Royal, SC use?

Section 4-1(a)(7) of the Town's Code of Ordinances (last amended by Ordinance No. 2022-21, December 14, 2022) adopts the "International Residential Code, 2021 Edition published by the International Code Council, Inc. with South Carolina Building Code modifications and Appendix", so that "all building construction, reconstruction, alteration and repairs and all materials and appliances used in connection with building work shall conform thereto", alongside the 2021 International Building Code and the 2021 International Existing Building Code. The Town's 2026 residential permit package states that "The Town of Port Royal has adopted" the "International Residential Code, 2021 edition with South Carolina Modifications." Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances, read in full, contains no technical amendment to the roofing chapter. At the state level, S.C. Code Section 6-9-10(A) requires every municipality 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 Port Royal. 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.)