The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / York County - Building and Codes Division

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

Adopted code

York County - Building and Codes Division

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated York County, SC, issued by York County - Building and Codes Division. York County's Building and Codes Division has published no statement on reroofing either way. Its Residential Permits page restates the general rule: "A permit is required when an owner, an authorized agent, or contractor desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building, or structure", and its FAQ says that "all construction requires a permit." Apply and pay online through the County's building permit portal, using a Residential Permit Application of the "Building" permit type with the job cost and a description of the work; the application requires the contractor's South Carolina licence number. 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 County issues building permits only for the unincorporated areas of York County, the Town of Hickory Grove and the Town of Sharon; for property in Rock Hill, Clover, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, York, McConnells or Smyrna the County's FAQ refers the owner to that city or town. Permit Services, 803-909-7200.

Roof code checklist: Unincorporated York County, SC

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesyorkcountysc.gov2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedyorkcountysc.gov2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803yorkcountysc.gov2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNoyorkcountysc.gov2026-09-26
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoyorkcountysc.gov2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedR301.2.1llr.sc.gov2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 150.04yorkcountysc.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
York County, South Carolina (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
18 W. Liberty Street, York, SC 29745
Contact
  • url: https://www.yorkcountysc.gov/351/Building-Codes
  • phone: 803-909-7200
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 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)). A residential builder, one who constructs or superintends the "construction, repair, improvement, or reimprovement of a residential building" when "the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars", must be licensed (Sections 40-59-20(6) and 40-59-220(A)). 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: York County sets no contractor licence or registration of its own; its building chapter (Chapter 150, as re-enacted in full in 2022) contains none, and the Building and Codes page states that "York County does not require a "business license" to contract work in the unincorporated areas of the County." The County's permit application requires the contractor's SC licence number and states, "I understand that I must use contractors licensed or registered with the State of South Carolina." For an owner working on his own house, the County's FAQ points to Section 40-59-260 and says the owner "must file the Owner’s Disclosure Statement as a matter of public record with the Register of Deeds Office."
Permit process note
York County's Building and Codes Division has published no statement on reroofing either way. Its Residential Permits page restates the general rule: "A permit is required when an owner, an authorized agent, or contractor desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building, or structure", and its FAQ says that "all construction requires a permit." Apply and pay online through the County's building permit portal, using a Residential Permit Application of the "Building" permit type with the job cost and a description of the work; the application requires the contractor's South Carolina licence number. 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 County issues building permits only for the unincorporated areas of York County, the Town of Hickory Grove and the Town of Sharon; for property in Rock Hill, Clover, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, York, McConnells or Smyrna the County's FAQ refers the owner to that city or town. Permit Services, 803-909-7200.
Adopted code
York County's Building and Codes page lists the "2021 International Residential Code with SC modifications" among the codes it has adopted, and the County's Residential Building Inspection Checklist (April 2025) states that "as of January 1, 2023, the State of South Carolina and York County have adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (2021 IRC) with South Carolina amendments". The County's building chapter as re-enacted in full by Ordinance No. 822 (adopted February 7, 2022), Chapter 150, Section 150.04(B), provides that residential construction, additions, alterations or repairs "shall be administered as provided in Chapter 1 of the 2018 Edition of the International Residential Code with modifications and Appendices H (patio covers), J (existing buildings), and Q (tiny homes), as modified by the South Carolina Codes Council"; that text names the 2018 edition, and the County's codified chapter on its online code host could not be opened, so any later amendment of that section is not reflected 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 list of approved local modifications carries no modification for York 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.) The County's Chapter 150, read in full as re-enacted in 2022, is administrative and contains no roofing provision of its own.
Mid-roof inspection
Not required — York County Code Section 150.23 sets the minimum inspection intervals as footing, slab and foundation; concrete slab and under-floor; lowest floor elevation in flood hazard areas; framing; rough-in; and final, with no in-progress roofing inspection, and the County's Residential Building Inspection Checklist lists none either. The Section reserves further inspections: "the building official shall have the authority to make or require any other inspections to ascertain compliance with this code and other laws enforced by the building official."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither York County's building chapter (Chapter 150, as re-enacted in full by Ordinance No. 822 in 2022) 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
None published: York County sets no dollar, area or percentage line below which roof work is exempt. Asked "Do I need a permit if my project is under $500", the County's FAQ answers: "Per the York County Code of Ordinances, all construction requires a permit." It cites County Code Section 150.14: "Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application to the Building and Codes Division and obtain the required permit." The chapter, read in full as re-enacted in 2022, names no roof work either way. The County's Residential Permit Fees chart (July 2026) says "We accept total contract amount submittals on building renovations only", with a "$17 minimum" for "$1,000 and under" and "$17 for the first $1,000 plus $7 for each $1,000 over the minimum" up to $50,000; it has no separate roofing line.
Wind design criteria
115 mph. The South Carolina Building Codes Council's wind and seismic map list for the 2021 code cycle states for York County: "Entire County is Seismic Category: B; Wind Category: 115mph." The Council describes these county maps as "based on the 2015 International Residential Code" and as "the primary source for defining the appropriate boundaries for wind and seismic design in South Carolina for single- and two-family dwellings". South Carolina's modification of IRC Section R301.2.1 (Reg. 8-1202) provides that buildings "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."
Roof layer limit / recover
York County applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. The South Carolina modifications do not change the reroofing section, and York County's building chapter (Chapter 150, read in full as re-enacted in 2022) adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base code's reroofing provisions apply unmodified; the roof-recover conditions, including the limit on existing layers, are in Section R908.3.1.1 of the 2021 IRC.
Deck & sheathing requirements
York County applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. Neither the County's building chapter (Chapter 150, read in full as re-enacted in 2022) 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
7% in unincorporated York County and in every town the South Carolina Department of Revenue lists in York County: 6% state sales tax plus the 1% York County Capital Projects tax (code 1046), per 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", and its list of building materials names "roofing materials". Repair and replacement work are treated alike.

More roof permit pages in South Carolina

West Columbia, SCRoof permit Anderson, SCRoof permit Beaufort, SCRoof permit Bluffton, SCRoof permit Cayce, 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 Building and Codes Division of York County Planning and Development Services issues residential and commercial building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas permits and makes the inspections for work under the County's jurisdiction. The County states that it issues building permits within the unincorporated areas of York County, the Town of Hickory Grove and the Town of Sharon. Rock Hill, Clover, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, York, McConnells and Smyrna are separate jurisdictions; property inside them is not served by this office.

Hail reports near the center of York County, SC

Reports, last 24 months
3
Largest, last 24 months
1.25 in May 8, 2025
Most recent
May 8, 2025 1.25 in
Reports, last 5 years
14
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
May 8, 20251.25 in7 mi NE
May 8, 20251.25 in9 mi ESE
May 8, 20251.00 in4 mi ENE
Apr 20, 20242.75 in3 mi WNW
Apr 20, 20241.00 in7 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 the center of York County, SC. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Unincorporated York 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 Unincorporated York 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: Unincorporated York County, SC

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated York County, SC. None published: York County sets no dollar, area or percentage line below which roof work is exempt. Asked "Do I need a permit if my project is under $500", the County's FAQ answers: "Per the York County Code of Ordinances, all construction requires a permit." It cites County Code Section 150.14: "Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application to the Building and Codes Division and obtain the required permit." The chapter, read in full as re-enacted in 2022, names no roof work either way. The County's Residential Permit Fees chart (July 2026) says "We accept total contract amount submittals on building renovations only", with a "$17 minimum" for "$1,000 and under" and "$17 for the first $1,000 plus $7 for each $1,000 over the minimum" up to $50,000; it has no separate roofing line.

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

York County applies the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications. The South Carolina modifications do not change the reroofing section, and York County's building chapter (Chapter 150, read in full as re-enacted in 2022) adds no reroofing rule of its own, so the base code's reroofing provisions apply unmodified; the roof-recover conditions, including the limit on existing layers, are in Section R908.3.1.1 of the 2021 IRC.

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

Yes.

What building code does Unincorporated York County, SC use?

York County's Building and Codes page lists the "2021 International Residential Code with SC modifications" among the codes it has adopted, and the County's Residential Building Inspection Checklist (April 2025) states that "as of January 1, 2023, the State of South Carolina and York County have adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (2021 IRC) with South Carolina amendments". The County's building chapter as re-enacted in full by Ordinance No. 822 (adopted February 7, 2022), Chapter 150, Section 150.04(B), provides that residential construction, additions, alterations or repairs "shall be administered as provided in Chapter 1 of the 2018 Edition of the International Residential Code with modifications and Appendices H (patio covers), J (existing buildings), and Q (tiny homes), as modified by the South Carolina Codes Council"; that text names the 2018 edition, and the County's codified chapter on its online code host could not be opened, so any later amendment of that section is not reflected 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 list of approved local modifications carries no modification for York 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.) The County's Chapter 150, read in full as re-enacted in 2022, is administrative and contains no roofing provision of its own.

Is a mid-roof inspection required in Unincorporated York County, SC?

No. York County Code Section 150.23 sets the minimum inspection intervals as footing, slab and foundation; concrete slab and under-floor; lowest floor elevation in flood hazard areas; framing; rough-in; and final, with no in-progress roofing inspection, and the County's Residential Building Inspection Checklist lists none either. The Section reserves further inspections: "the building official shall have the authority to make or require any other inspections to ascertain compliance with this code and other laws enforced by the building official."