South Carolina building code
South Carolina has adopted 2021 SCBC based on 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the South Carolina cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2021 South Carolina Building Codes (2021 I-Codes + 2020 NEC with SC modifications), effective 2023-01-01; energy frozen at 2009 IECC by statute
- Prior edition
- 2018 I-Codes with SC modifications + 2017 NEC (effective 2020-01-01)
- Code authority
- South Carolina Building Codes Council, SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2022-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-Codes with SC modifications + 2017 NEC (effective 2020-01-01).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2021 SCBC based on 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2021 SCRC based on 2021 IRC | n/a |
| Fire | 2021 SCFC based on 2021 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2020 NEC based on 2020 NFPA 70 | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 SCMC based on 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 SCPC based on 2021 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2009 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | latest published edition (2017 as of this research) ICC/ANSI A117.1 based on ICC A117.1 | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2021 SCFGC based on 2021 IFGC | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for South Carolina. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- Hurricane wind-borne debris region
- California Coastal Zone
- Seismic design category overlay
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
Sources
- https://www.llr.sc.gov/BCC/PDFfiles/Building%20Codes%20in%20Effect%20for%20South%20Carolina.pdf
- https://llr.sc.gov/bcc/BCAdoption.aspx
- https://llr.sc.gov/bcc/
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t06c009.php
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t06c010.php
- https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/south-carolina
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
Common questions
What building code does South Carolina use?
South Carolina uses 2021 SCBC based on 2021 IBC. It is administered by the South Carolina Building Codes Council, SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). The prior edition was 2018 I-Codes with SC modifications + 2017 NEC (effective 2020-01-01).
Do cities in South Carolina amend the state code?
Local amendments are adopted by ordinance at the city or county level. Confirm with the building department that reviews your permit.
Which edition applies to a permit already in review in South Carolina?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2022-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-Codes with SC modifications + 2017 NEC (effective 2020-01-01).
Check a plan set against South Carolina code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
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Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.