Permits & licensing in South Carolina local government
What South Carolina city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about permits & licensing — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
336 South Carolina meetings since 2024 covered permits & licensing. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in South Carolina with the most permits & licensing activity
- Charleston, SC (192)
- Lancaster, SC (16)
- Surfside Beach, SC (14)
- Aiken County, SC (8)
- Chesterfield, SC (8)
- Hartsville, SC (8)
- Mount Pleasant, SC (7)
- Gaffney, SC (7)
- Spartanburg County, SC (7)
- Irmo, SC (6)
- Lexington, SC (5)
- Port Royal, SC (5)
Latest matching meetings
Business Committee to finalize November Expo & Chicken Bog Cook-Off plans
The Surfside Beach Business Committee will review and discuss the proposal for the November 12 Business Expo & Chicken Bog Cook-Off, including venue, vendor spaces, and ticket pricing. They will also hear updates on the Town Map Booklet, committee reports, and feedback on business license processes. The meeting is…
College of Charleston housing project on 1794 cemetery site faces archaeology review
The Board of Architectural Review is reviewing an Archaeological Work Plan for the College of Charleston's proposed student housing at 106 Coming Street, a site that includes part of Charleston's second official municipal cemetery (opened 1794). The plan outlines geophysical surveys, excavation, and procedures for…
Committee to review street closures for Love Your Block, Tailgate, Run, Parade
The Special Events Committee will meet virtually to discuss and potentially approve several event applications involving street closures and large gatherings. Items include a community celebration with a mural unveiling, a tailgate event, a road race, and a high school homecoming parade. The committee will also…
Council to consider second reading of short-term rental business license moratorium
The Folly Beach City Council is holding a special meeting with the main item being the second reading of Ordinance 27-26, which would impose a moratorium on new business licenses for short-term rentals until a study is completed. The agenda also includes staff reports, old business, new business, and council comments…
Planning Commission to review UDO rewrite and three land-use requests
The Lancaster County Planning Commission will hold public hearings on a comprehensive rewrite of the Unified Development Ordinance and three land-use applications, then make recommendations to County Council. It will also decide on a preliminary plat for a 573-lot residential subdivision. The agenda includes routine…
Council to vote on rezonings, annexations, and $2.3M in contracts
The Columbia City Council will hold a regular meeting with public input, consent agenda items, and multiple public hearings and votes on zoning and annexation requests. Key actions include approving contracts for software, elevator maintenance, police services, vehicles, and road resurfacing, as well as several…
Business Committee to review new business licenses and expo plans
The Surfside Beach Business Committee is meeting to discuss routine business matters, including updates on the town map booklet, summer tourism, and new business recruitment. They will also review a list of new business licenses issued in the past month and discuss the upcoming Business Expo event, which has been…
Board to hear appeals on two new homes at 7 and 11 Catfiddle Street
The Building Codes Board of Appeals will hear two appeals (BOAA2026-00734 and BOAA2026-00735) for proposed new single dwelling units at 7 and 11 Catfiddle Street. The appellants seek permission to proceed with permitting and construction without waiting for a Letter of Map Amendment, citing that the grade is above the…
Council reviews franchise policy, drones, business licenses, STR study
The Folly Beach City Council is holding a work session to discuss several policy items, including a franchise policy review, local adoption of federal/state drone laws and enforcement of commercial activity bans on the beach, reorganization of the Business License Department, a request for proposals for a short-term…
Board to review several alteration requests, notably a pool at 416 Front St.
The Georgetown Architectural Review Board will approve minutes from its July 6 meeting and then consider a series of property alteration applications. Items include fence relocation, window changes, driveway replacement, a new in‑ground pool, and demolition with asbestos siding removal. Public input will be taken on…
Board considers special exception for vape and cigar shop on Lake Murray Blvd
The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet to review a special exception request. The board is considering a request under Section 2-3.18 for a business at 952 Lake Murray Blvd. Suite A.
Board to consider after‑the‑fact demolition of exterior elements at 32 Dunnemann Ave.
The Board will approve the minutes from its July 23, 2026 meeting. It will review an application for after‑the‑fact partial demolition of exterior elements visible from the public right‑of‑way at 32 Dunnemann Avenue, a historic 1947 home in the Wagener Terrace district (Council District 6). The application cites a…
Board of Architectural Review to consider demolition and alteration requests
The Board of Architectural Review – Small will review 15 applications for property modifications. The board is deciding on requests for full and partial demolitions, conceptual approvals for new construction, and exterior alterations to historic structures.
MOJA Parade gets new route; 8 event permits approved with conditions
The Special Events Committee met virtually on July 22, 2026, to review and vote on event permits. The committee approved with conditions eight events, including the MOJA Arts Festival parade with a new route, a college basketball doubleheader, and a wedding second line. One event, a Clemson vs LSU watch party, was…
Board to consider Anytime Fitness sign variances at 100 Laurens Street
The Design Review Board will hold a public hearing and decide on a Certificate of Appropriateness for a wall sign at 100 Laurens Street (Anytime Fitness), which requests variances for the use of purple color and internal illumination not allowed by current standards. The board will also continue discussing proposed…
Business Committee will discuss updates to the upcoming Business Expo event
The Surfside Beach Business Committee will review the outline and details of the planned Business Expo, with input from staff. The meeting will also include routine items such as approval of May meeting minutes, public comment, and updates on tourism and business recruitment. New business licenses issued since the…
Review of 64-lot Dockside Preserve final subdivision and Waterside Wax Myrtle preliminary plat
The Technical Review Committee will review a revised preliminary plat for Waterside Wax Myrtle and a major final subdivision plat creating 64 residential lots in Dockside Preserve Phase 1A. The committee will also discuss a building permit request for a 129 sq ft addition to a produce stand at 807 Highway 17 South.
Special Events Committee approves two World Cup watch parties with conditions
The Special Events Committee met virtually to discuss and approve two World Cup-related events. Both events were approved with conditions, including requirements for security, engineering permits, and accessibility. The committee also received general updates with no action taken.
Design Review Board receives 18 staff-approved commercial quick plan reviews
The Design Review Board will consider a list of 18 quick plan reviews that have already been approved by staff. Items include tenant fit-outs, sign installations, a temporary jobsite trailer, and the installation of two Tesla chargers. The board is not voting on these items but receiving them for informational or…
Committee approves fireworks memorial for 12-year-old at Joe Riley Stadium
The Special Events Committee is deciding on permits for several upcoming events, including a memorial with fireworks, a golf cart parade, a motorcycle ride, and a foot race. Two applications were tabled pending more information, and two were approved with conditions. The meeting also included routine updates and…
Committee reviews permits for July and August community events
The Special Events Committee is reviewing permit applications for several upcoming public gatherings. The body will discuss event logistics, including street closures and police escorts for parades and memorial services.
County reviews April 2026 financial performance
Aiken County Council reviewed the General Fund's April 2026 financial report, which shows revenues of $83.6 million and expenditures of $80.7 million, with real property taxes being the largest revenue source.
Board of Architectural Review reviews five residential and commercial updates
The Board is reviewing a series of staff-level approvals for minor renovations and exterior modifications. These requests include roofing replacements, signage, and general home repairs in historic districts.
Committee to review changes to mobile food vending locations
The Traffic and Transportation Committee is considering the removal of two specific food vending spaces and the transition of eight other high-demand locations to a competitive bidding and franchise agreement process.
SC250 July 4th events approved with conditions; drone show, fireworks planned
The Special Events Committee reviewed and conditionally approved two major SC250 events: a June 27 Carolina Day celebration with a drone show and a July 4th Waterfront Park Independence Day celebration. Both require the applicant to submit required documents by June 11. Several other events were also approved or…
Special Events Committee considers permit for SC250 drone show and Independence Day celebration
The committee will discuss and potentially approve several special event applications requiring street closures. Key items include the SC250 Charleston Carolina Day celebration with a drone show over Charleston Harbor and the Waterfront Park Independence Day celebration. Other events include a neighborhood parade…
Board of Architectural Review to consider signage for 176 Concord St
The Board is reviewing a request for multiple signs at 176 Concord St. This includes a monument sign, facade signs, a canopy sign, blade signs, and a wall plaque.
Cheraw board to review carport and awning installations on Kershaw Street
The Cheraw Board of Architectural Review will meet to approve minutes from the May 4 meeting and consider two new business items: a carport installation at 400 Kershaw Street and an awning and concrete pad at 405 Kershaw Street. The agenda also includes discussion, public comments, and adjournment.
Approval of Development Plan Amendment for 19 Towne Drive dental office
The Development Review Committee will consider a Development Plan Amendment application for 19 Towne Drive. The request, submitted by Daniel Gaines of Gaines Engineering & Design for SGA Dental Partners, seeks approval to renovate and add to the existing dental office and related landscaping. The property is located…
Cemetery committee discusses columbarium, pedestrian gates, and Memorial Day events
The Springwood Cemetery Advisory Committee is meeting to discuss several projects and routine updates. Items include the pedestrian gates project, columbarium update, Memorial Day special event permit, and Wreaths Across America. The agenda also covers approval of previous minutes, membership updates, and maintenance…
July 4th event permit debated, crowd limit cut to 2,000
The Special Events Committee reviewed three SC250 250th anniversary event permit applications, all tabled for revisions. The July 4th celebration at Waterfront Park faced concerns over stage weight and crowd size, reducing expected attendees from 6,150 to 2,000. The June 27 Carolina Day drone show and July 1-3 Marion…
Council to vote on building permit enforcement with towns and lease for 1520 Russell St
The Orangeburg County Council will hold a third reading and public hearing on two ordinances: one authorizing the county to enforce building permitting and inspections within towns that request it, and another to lease 1520 Russell Street to Monteith Construction Corporation with the county as landlord. A first…
Board reviews plans for new grocery store and office building
The Design Review Board is reviewing a series of staff-approved permits for building, sign, roofing, and mechanical projects across Charleston. Notable items include the construction of an 11,368 sq ft retail shell and a new grocery store at 1615 Old Towne Road, as well as a new 3-story office building at 1662 Ingram…
Council to extend moratorium on certain development permits for three months
The Pickens County Council will conduct a second reading of Ordinance No. 685, extending a temporary moratorium on permit applications for commercial lodging, solar farms, the Highway 8 corridor, major subdivisions of three or more lots, and multifamily dwellings for three months. The council will also hold a first…
Committee approves Party for the Parks fundraiser at Colonial Lake
The Special Events Committee reviewed and approved permits for several events, including the Party for the Parks fundraiser and a farmers market at Hampton Park, while tabling decisions on the 911 Heroes Run and Veterans Day Parade pending further details.
Committee to discuss Party for the Parks fundraiser and other event permits
The Special Events Committee will consider multiple event applications, including the Party for the Parks major fundraiser at Colonial Lake and Moultrie Park, a farmers market at Hampton Park, and several street-closing events. The committee will also approve previous meeting minutes and receive updates from staff…
March financial report shows 77.62% of budgeted revenue collected
The County Council is reviewing the March 2026 monthly financial report for the General Fund. Revenues total $76.95 million, or 77.62% of the annual budget. Notable items include elevated permit revenues due to commercial permits and a fee change, and a rise in EMS service collections. The budgeted use of reserves has…
Building permits value reaches $84.4 million in April
The County Council Committees review the Planning & Development Department's monthly report for April 2026, which includes building permits, fees, and inspections. Also presented are the C Fund road program status (11 projects totaling $5.3M), stormwater activities, and an engineering subdivision report tracking bond…
Design Review Board approves routine quick plan reviews
This meeting consists of staff-level approvals for 11 quick plan review items including sign installations, structural alterations, mechanical replacements, and roofing. No public hearings or major policy decisions are scheduled.
BAR reviews 10 quick plan permits including new construction and substantial improvement
The Board of Architectural Review will conduct quick plan reviews for 10 permits. Items include new single-family residence on Ashley Ave, a substantial elevation and remodel on South St, and various renovations and signs. These are staff-level approvals, not full board hearings.