Do you need a permit to demolish a house in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina has no single statewide demolition permit, but state law requires every county and municipality to enforce building codes covering the removal of structures, so the permit comes from your local building department. Around here that means Florence County for unincorporated addresses and a two-step process inside the City of Florence.
That local structure is why two neighbors ten minutes apart can face different forms and fees. Here is how it works in practice, plus the two state-level rules that ride along with every teardown.
Who issues the permit where you live?
| Where the house sits | Who you deal with | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Florence County | Building Department, 518 S. Irby St | Dedicated demolition permit form; contractor must notify SCDES and utilities first; void if not started in 6 months |
| City of Florence | Planning first, then Building | Demolition application goes to Planning, the Historical Commission approves, then the Building Department issues the permit |
| Other Pee Dee towns | That town or county’s building office | Requirements vary; call before scheduling |
The City of Florence step order catches people: the city’s own instructions say the Historical Commission signs off before anything is demolished, and the language is not limited to landmark districts. Plan the approval into the calendar, not after it.
Fees are the one thing nobody publishes. County forms leave the permit amount blank for staff, so the honest answer on cost is a phone call. What is fixed is the sequence, and we run it as part of every demolition job so the machine never beats the paperwork to the site.
Where does asbestos actually apply?
Search results still say “SCDHEC demolition permit,” and both halves of that phrase are dated. The environmental agency is now SCDES, and what it issues is an asbestos-related project license, not permission to tear the house down.
More useful: most single-family houses are excluded. The regulation’s definition of a regulated facility leaves out residential buildings of four or fewer dwelling units. The exclusion falls away when the teardown is part of a larger commercial or public project, when multiple houses on a block share one owner, when the building sits on an installation, when the house previously served a non-residential use, or when it will be burned for training. A regulated building needs an inspector’s survey under three years old, a written SCDES application at least ten working days out, and the $50 project license. If your situation smells like an edge case, we sort it before quoting.
What changed with 811 in 2026?
The dig law now applies to everyone. South Carolina’s underground utility statute explicitly defines demolition work as excavation, requires a locate ticket three to twelve working days before starting, and as of May 2026 the homeowner exemption is repealed. Penalties now reach $5,000 per violation, and more for damage with gross negligence. The ticket is free and lasts fifteen working days.
Physical disconnects are separate from locates: power, water, sewer or septic, and gas each get shut off and verified before demolition, and the Florence County form puts that notification duty on the contractor. One more no: burning a demolished structure is prohibited statewide, so debris rides to a permitted C&D landfill. Florence County has that disposal in-county, which is one reason local teardowns price reasonably. For what the whole job costs once permits clear, see our house demolition cost guide.
Questions people ask
Are you allowed to demolish your own house? Generally yes, on your own property, once the local permit is issued and utilities are disconnected. The permit still applies to owners, and the 811 locate call is required.
What permits do I need to demolish a house? A demolition permit from the city or county where the house sits, plus utility disconnects. In the City of Florence, Historical Commission approval comes first. Regulated buildings add an SCDES asbestos notice, though most single houses are excluded.
How much is a demolition permit in South Carolina? There is no statewide fee, and around Florence no public fee schedule. County forms leave the amount for staff. The one fixed statewide number is the $50 SCDES project license for regulated facilities.
Do I have to call 811 before demolition? Yes. The dig law defines demolition as excavation, so a locate ticket is required three to twelve working days before work. The homeowner exemption was repealed effective May 2026.
Can I burn the debris from a demolished house? No. Burning demolition debris is prohibited in South Carolina. The material goes to a permitted C&D landfill, and Florence County has that disposal in-county.
Let the paperwork ride with the job
Permits, notices, disconnects and disposal all come with the teardown when we run it. Tell us where the house sits and we will map the exact steps for that jurisdiction. Request a free quote or call (217) 741-6050.