(A) Payment of fees. A permit shall not be valid until the permit and/or business license and other fees as prescribed by law have been paid, nor shall an amendment to a permit be released until the additional fees, if any, have been paid.
(B) Schedule of permit fees. On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the governing authority.
(C) Building permit valuations. The applicant for a permit shall provide an estimated permit value at time of application. Permit valuations shall include total value of work, including materials and labor, for which the permit is being issued, such as electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing equipment and permanent systems. If, in the opinion of the Building Official, the valuation is underestimated on the application, the permit shall be denied, unless the applicant can show detailed estimates to meet the approval of the Building Official. Final building permit valuation shall be set by the Building Official.
(D) Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work on a building or structure before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a double fee.
(E) Related fees. The payment of the fee for the construction, alteration, removal or demolition for work done in connection to or concurrently with the work authorized by a permit shall not relieve the applicant or holder of the permit from the payment of other fees that are prescribed by law.
(F) Refunds.
(1) There shall be no refund unless it is due to a county mistake. All refunds caused by a county mistake are to be referred to the Building Official for processing.
(2) Exceptions: Requests for refunds by the applicant’s mistake may be made up to financial close of books (3:30 pm) on the day the funds are paid.
(G) Permit fees. Fees shall be as established by the Town of James Island, as set forth below in this section.
Total Valuation | Fee |
Total Valuation | Fee |
$1,000.00 and less | No fee, unless an inspection is required, in which case a permit is required and a $50.00 fee shall be charged |
$1,000.00 to $2,000.00 | $50.00 |
$2,001.00 to $50,000.00 | $50.00 for the first $2,000.00 + $4.00 per $1,000.00 |
$50,001.00 to $100,000.00 | $242.00 for the first $50,000.00 + $3.75 per $1,000.00 |
$100,001.00 to $300,000.00 | $429.50 for the first $100,000.00 +$3.50 per $1,000.00 |
$300,001.00 to $500,000.00 | $1,129.50 for the first $300,000.00 +$3.35 per $1,000.00 |
$500,001.00 and up | $1,799.50 for the first $500,000.00 + $3.00 per $1,000.00 |
(b) Working without permits: Double fee.
(3) Other permit fees.
Permit fee when the contractor is working as a subcontractor for the following activities; painting/wallpaper; floor covering, drywall (unless part of fire related assembly), trim, cabinet, shelving, countertops, closet systems, and shower door | $25.00 |
Exceptions: | |
(a) When permits are issued for work being done as the prime contractor, the fees shall be based on construction value as in division (G)(2) above, valuation chart, for the appropriate type of work being performed. | |
(b) Prime contractors permitted and performing subcontractor work utilizing their full-time regular hourly employees will be issued trade permits with no fee. | |
(4) Manufactured housing permit fees.
For setup on a new or existing site | $100.00 |
Note: Fees for modular construction as defined by the South Carolina Modular Construction Act shall be based upon the fee schedule for permits based on construction valuations. | |
(5) Inspection fees.
(a) | Reinspection | When a reinspection fee is required, an additional fee of $50.00 will be charged for each inspection. |
(b) | Minimum permit or inspection fee | $50.00 |
(c) | Floodplain management compliance inspection | $75.00 |
(d) | Hazardous occupant permits | $100.00 |
(e) | Fireworks stand permits | $50.00 |
(f) | Structural moving permit fee | $100.00 |
(g) | Demolition permit fee | $50.00 |
(6) Other fees.
(a) | Plan review fees: | One-half permit fee based on construction valuations |
(b) | Construction in flood zones/filing fee: | $20.00 |
Note: If a prime contractor has paid a flood zone filing fee, the subcontractor working for the prime contractor will not be charged an additional filing fee. | ||
(c) | Fees for replacement of placards shall be | $25.00 |
(d) | Variance/appeal application fee | $100.00 |
Note: Application fees for appeals successfully granted by the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals shall be reimbursed to the applicant. | ||
(e) | Vehicle decal fee | $6.00/vehicle/set |
(f) | Annual vehicle | $3.00 |
(7) Penalties. Where work for which a permit is required by this chapter is started or proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fees herein specific shall be doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of this chapter in the execution of work, nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.
(Ord. 2016-14, passed 1-19-2017)
Editor’s Note:
The specific fees set forth in this section are those of Charleston County Ordinance 1840, adopted by the county on January 20, 2015, which was adopted by the town’s Ordinance 2016-14 on January 19, 2017