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Permitting Authorities / Williamsburg County - Building Codes Enforcement Department

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

Adopted code

Williamsburg County - Building Codes Enforcement Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Williamsburg County, SC, issued by Williamsburg County - Building Codes Enforcement Department. Williamsburg County's building ordinance provides that "No work relating to the codes adopted by this article shall commence until a valid permit for such work has been issued by the permitting department", and the County has published no exemption for a reroof; starting work before the permit doubles the fees. Apply on the County's Application for Construction at the Department of Inspections, 201 West Main Street, Suite 121, Kingstree (843-355-9321, ext. 5300). The permit card must be posted "in a visible location on the premises", "protected from the weather and maintained on site throughout construction." The County "requires a 24 hour notice to perform an inspection." 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 coverage area is the unincorporated county; confirm with the Department before applying for work inside a town.

Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Williamsburg County, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeswilliamsburgcounty.sc.gov2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedwilliamsburgcounty.sc.gov2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803williamsburgcounty.sc.gov2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNowilliamsburgcounty.sc.gov2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedR301.2.1Williamsburg 15(Mays).pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 1-1williamsburgcounty.sc.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
Williamsburg County, South Carolina (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
201 W Main Street, Suite 121, Kingstree, SC 29556
Contact
  • url: https://williamsburgcounty.sc.gov/180/Code-Enforcement
  • phone: 843-355-9321, ext. 5300
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 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(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" 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.
  • county_level: Williamsburg County sets no contractor licence or registration of its own. Its building ordinance (Ordinance No. 2009-012, Section 1-9) provides: "All persons requesting to apply or purchase permits within the unincorporated areas of Williamsburg County, must comply with South Carolinas' Labor and Licensing Regulations regarding proper licensing as outlined in the Residential Builders Commission Licensed Law and/or the General and Mechanical Contracting Act." Section 1-10 requires an owner who builds or improves a one- or two-family residence under the owner exemption to "first file, as a matter of public record with the register of deeds, an owner/builder disclosure statement provided by the permitting department." The County's Residential Plan Requirements add: "Homeowners obtaining their own permits for construction may utilize family members, not friends, to aid in the construction process. However, when entering into a contract with an individual, that person will have to be licensed for the full dollar amount of the contract. An individual licensed as a specialty contractor is only licensed to perform work up to $5,000.00 no more." The Code Enforcement page states that the office does not "Provide Licenses For Contractors" and refers contractors to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Separately, Ordinance No. 2007-001 requires every business in the county to register with the County and pay an annual $15.00 Business Registration and Administrative Fee by July 1, with its business property taxes paid; that is a general business registration, not a contractor credential.
Permit process note
Williamsburg County's building ordinance provides that "No work relating to the codes adopted by this article shall commence until a valid permit for such work has been issued by the permitting department", and the County has published no exemption for a reroof; starting work before the permit doubles the fees. Apply on the County's Application for Construction at the Department of Inspections, 201 West Main Street, Suite 121, Kingstree (843-355-9321, ext. 5300). The permit card must be posted "in a visible location on the premises", "protected from the weather and maintained on site throughout construction." The County "requires a 24 hour notice to perform an inspection." 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 coverage area is the unincorporated county; confirm with the Department before applying for work inside a town.
Adopted code
Williamsburg County Ordinance No. 2022-08 (third reading October 18, 2022) amends the County's building-code ordinances, Nos. 2002-002 and 2009-012, "adopting the latest editions of the mandatory codes", and lists among them the "2021 South Carolina Residential Code and the 2021 International Residential Code with SC modifications". Ordinance No. 2009-012, Section 1-1, adopts the International Code Council codes "in the version most recently adopted by the State of South Carolina's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation", "excluding the appendices and including Chapter One", and provides that "These codes shall become effective in the county on the effective date specified by the state." The Department's Building Codes page states: "Williamsburg County enforces the latest South Carolina State adopted versions of the" International Building, Residential, Fire, Mechanical, Plumbing and related codes. 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 Williamsburg 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.) Neither Ordinance No. 2022-08 nor Ordinance No. 2009-012 (each read in full) contains a roofing provision of its own.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither Williamsburg County Ordinance No. 2022-08 nor Ordinance No. 2009-012 (which adopts the codes as the state adopts them) 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
Williamsburg County sets no dollar, area or percentage line for roof work. Its building ordinance (Ordinance No. 2009-012, Section 1-4) provides: "No work relating to the codes adopted by this article shall commence until a valid permit for such work has been issued by the permitting department." The ordinance adopts the codes "including Chapter One", names no roof work and contains no exemption for it, and the County has published no statement on whether a reroof or roof repair needs a permit. The ordinance's fee table starts at "Less Than $1,000.00" ($15.00), and the County's current Building Permit Fee Schedule shows a "$50 MINIMUM" and "$15 FOR $1000 PLUS $5 PER ADDITIONAL $1,000 UP TO $50,000"; neither has a roofing line. The chief building official "reserves to the right to use the contract price of a project/job as a means of determining the building permit fee." Under Section 1-5, "For work commencing prior to obtaining proper permit(s), all administrative and permit fees specified herein shall be 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 approved wind and seismic map for Williamsburg County, one of the county maps the Council approved "for the 2021 code cycle based on the 2015 International Residential Code", shows two wind-speed lines crossing the County, one labelled "130 MPH" and one labelled "140 MPH". 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 determined by the AHJ as permitted by Figure R301.2(4)(A) of the 2015 International Residential Code." The County's Building Codes page states: "Design criteria for plan submittal must meet a minimum of 102 to 110 miles per hour (mph) winds", and its inspection guidance states that "Williamsburg County is in a high wind region." Confirm the design wind speed for the job's location with the Department.
Roof layer limit / recover
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 IRC do not change the reroofing section, and neither Williamsburg County Ordinance No. 2022-08 nor Ordinance No. 2009-012 (each read in full) adds a reroofing rule of its own.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Williamsburg County applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. Neither Ordinance No. 2022-08 nor Ordinance No. 2009-012 (each 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. For new construction the County's inspection sequence includes a "Wall/Roof Sheathing" inspection: "Williamsburg County is in a high wind region. Specific nailing patterns as well as hold-down-requirements have to be met and inspected. Inspection shall take place prior to any felt or building wrap being applied to the structure."
Sales & use tax
8% in unincorporated Williamsburg County: 6% state sales tax plus the Williamsburg County Local Option tax and Capital Projects tax (code 1045), per SCDOR form ST-575, South Carolina Sales Tax Rate by Municipality (Rev. 2/5/26). SCDOR's county map, form ST-500 (Rev. 3/9/2026), carries the notice: "Effective May 1, 2026 Williamsburg County imposed a 1% Capital Projects Tax." ST-575 lists the same 8% for Andrews (Williamsburg County portion), Greeleyville, Hemingway, Kingstree, Lane and Stuckey. 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 York County, SCRoof permit West Columbia, SCRoof permit Anderson, SCRoof permit Beaufort, SCRoof permit Bluffton, SCRoof permit Roofing in South CarolinaState hub

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The Williamsburg County Building Codes Department issues building permits and makes residential and commercial building inspections for work in unincorporated Williamsburg County. In the County's words, the department "was established in 1999" and its "coverage area encompasses the unincorporated areas of Williamsburg County." Confirm with the department before applying for work inside any town.

No NOAA hail reports within 10 miles of the center of Williamsburg County, SC in the last 5 years (data through Sep 30, 2026).

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

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Sources

Roofing questions: Unincorporated Williamsburg County, SC

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Williamsburg County, SC. Williamsburg County sets no dollar, area or percentage line for roof work. Its building ordinance (Ordinance No. 2009-012, Section 1-4) provides: "No work relating to the codes adopted by this article shall commence until a valid permit for such work has been issued by the permitting department." The ordinance adopts the codes "including Chapter One", names no roof work and contains no exemption for it, and the County has published no statement on whether a reroof or roof repair needs a permit. The ordinance's fee table starts at "Less Than $1,000.00" ($15.00), and the County's current Building Permit Fee Schedule shows a "$50 MINIMUM" and "$15 FOR $1000 PLUS $5 PER ADDITIONAL $1,000 UP TO $50,000"; neither has a roofing line. The chief building official "reserves to the right to use the contract price of a project/job as a means of determining the building permit fee." Under Section 1-5, "For work commencing prior to obtaining proper permit(s), all administrative and permit fees specified herein shall be doubled."

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

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 IRC do not change the reroofing section, and neither Williamsburg County Ordinance No. 2022-08 nor Ordinance No. 2009-012 (each read in full) adds a reroofing rule of its own.

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

Yes.

What building code does Unincorporated Williamsburg County, SC use?

Williamsburg County Ordinance No. 2022-08 (third reading October 18, 2022) amends the County's building-code ordinances, Nos. 2002-002 and 2009-012, "adopting the latest editions of the mandatory codes", and lists among them the "2021 South Carolina Residential Code and the 2021 International Residential Code with SC modifications". Ordinance No. 2009-012, Section 1-1, adopts the International Code Council codes "in the version most recently adopted by the State of South Carolina's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation", "excluding the appendices and including Chapter One", and provides that "These codes shall become effective in the county on the effective date specified by the state." The Department's Building Codes page states: "Williamsburg County enforces the latest South Carolina State adopted versions of the" International Building, Residential, Fire, Mechanical, Plumbing and related codes. 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 Williamsburg 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.) Neither Ordinance No. 2022-08 nor Ordinance No. 2009-012 (each read in full) contains a roofing provision of its own.