Construct on a Commercial Site
In Richland County, there are many types of commercial construction. Click the type below that pertains to your project.
New Construction
There are 3 overall types of New Construction in Richland County:
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What is a minor land development? Development on a vacant site with structures of less than 100,000 square feet of gross floor area (gfa) or less than 150 multi-family units.
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What is a major land development? Development on a vacant OR developed site with structures equal to or greater than 100,000 square feet gfa or equal to or greater than 150 multi-family units.
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What is a site addition? Development on a developed site with structures of less than 100,000 square feet gfa or less than 150 multi-family units. The addition of impermeable surface with no structures also requires a site addition application.
*Note: Multi-family Residential projects are a separate project type in eTrakit because they have different fees from the above projects.
Minor Land Development and Building Requirements
Applies to a vacant site with structures of less than 100,000 square feet (gross floor area) or less than 150 multi-family units
Two separate submittals are required, site plans and building plans. Each is submitted separately, but the building permit will not be issued until the site plan is approved and the land disturbance permit has been issued:
- Site- Site work requires a minor land development application.
- Building- For building requirements, see below.
|
1
|
Building Permit Application |
| 2 |
Elevation Certificate if within a flood plain. (If you are unsure, please contact our Floodplain Coordinator at (803) 576-2150) |
| 3 |
Set of Plans (electronic submissions), which include construction drawings, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, floor, life safety plan, COM Checks, full code summary, signed and sealed by a South Carolina registered architects and/or engineers (if required, see NOTE below) |
| 4 |
COM Check – please refer to the US Department of Energy website https://www.energycodes.gov/comcheck/ |
| 5 |
Site plan, which must identify the location of the proposed structure, any existing structures, offsets to property lines or other structures, parking facilities and easement locations. Please check with the Land Development Division, (803) 576-2190 for all site/landscaping submittal requirements. |
| 6 |
“Soil Letter” and an energy statement for the building envelope, mechanical and electrical portions of the project |
| 7 |
Water and Sewer letters of availability |
| 8 |
Department of Transportation encroachment approval letters |
NOTE: If the new construction is less than 5,000 square feet (total area of building) and is NOT an assembly, institutional, educational, multi-family residential or Hazardous occupancy classification, the plans may not require an architect or engineer’s seal (pre-engineered buildings would need a seal). However, all plans must contain full code summaries and all other specific information required by the building codes.
Major Land Development and Building Requirements
Applies to a vacant OR developed site with structures equal to or greater than 100,000 square feet gfa or equal to or greater than 150 multi-family units.
Two separate submittals are required:
- Site- Site work requires the application of a major land development or multi-family residential. Click here for a major land development application guide. Click here for a multi-family residential application guide. Or go directly to the application page.
- Building- For building requirements, see below.
| 1 |
Building Permit Application |
| 2 |
Elevation Certificate, if within a floodplain (If you are unsure, please contact our Floodplain Coordinator at (803)576-2150) |
| 3 |
Set of plans (electronic submissions), which include construction drawings, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, floor, life safety plan, COM checks, full code summary, signed and sealed by South Carolina registered architect and/or engineer (if required, see NOTE below) |
| 4 |
COM check- please refer to the US Department of Energy website https://energycodes.gov/comcheck/ |
| 5 |
Site plan, which must identify the location of the proposed structure, any existing structures, offsets to property lines or other structures, parking facilities and easement locations. Please check with the land development division,(803)576-2190, for all site/landscaping submittal requirements. |
| 6 |
"Soil letter" and an energy statement for the building envelope, mechanical and electrical portions of the project |
| 7 |
Water and sewer letters of availability |
| 8 |
SC Department of Transportation encroachment approval letter |
NOTE: If the new construction is less than 5,000 square feet (total area of building) and is NOT an a assembly, institutional, educational, multi-family residential or hazardous occupancy classification, the plans may not require an architect or engineer’s seal (pre-engineered buildings would need a seal). However, all plans must contain full code summaries and all other specific information required by the building codes.
Site Addition and Building Requirements
Applies to a developed site with structures of less than 100,000 square feet gfa or less than 150 multi-family units. This includes the additional of impermeable surface with no structures.
Two separate submittals are required:
- Site- Site work requires the application of a site addition. Click here for an application guide or go directly to the application page.
- Building- For building requirements, see below.
|
1
|
Building Permit Application |
| 2 |
Elevation Certificate if within a flood plain. (If you are unsure, please contact our Floodplain Coordinator at (803) 576-2150) |
| 3 |
Set of Plans (electronic submissions), which include construction drawings, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, floor, life safety plan, COM Checks, full code summary, signed and sealed by a South Carolina registered architects and/or engineers (if required, see NOTE below) |
| 4 |
COM Check – please refer to the US Department of Energy website https://www.energycodes.gov/comcheck/ |
| 5 |
Site plan, which must identify the location of the proposed structure, any existing structures, offsets to property lines or other structures, parking facilities and easement locations. Please check with the Land Development Division, (803) 576-2190 for all site/landscaping submittal requirements. |
| 6 |
“Soil Letter” and an energy statement for the building envelope, mechanical and electrical portions of the project |
| 7 |
Water and Sewer letters of availability |
| 8 |
Department of Transportation encroachment approval letters |
NOTE: If the new construction is less than 5,000 square feet (total area of building) and is NOT an assembly, institutional, educational, multi-family residential or Hazardous occupancy classification, the plans may not require an architect or engineer’s seal (pre-engineered buildings would need a seal). However, all plans must contain full code summaries and all other specific information required by the building codes.
Up-fits and Repairs
INTERIOR RENOVATIONS
The requirements are the same as building requirements for New Construction except soils, water, sewer, and Department of Transportation letters may not be required. Minor renovations may have less plan requirements or may not require plans.
Change of Occupancy/Change of Use
No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any building that would place the building in a different division of the same group of occupancies or in a different group of occupancies, unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of the currently adopted code(s). All of the building requirements for New Construction may apply.
Modular
All requirements for New Construction apply to modular buildings. Additionally, the engineered drawings from the manufacturer are required.
Construction Trailer
A copy of the manufacturer's plate and an electrical permit are required.
Demolition
No submission is required for demolition. You may be required to comply with DHEC Asbestos regulations. Click this link for DHEC's regulations: https://scdhec.gov/environment/your-home/asbestos-information-homeowners/renovations-and-demolitions