Building Codes Enforcement
An individual employed by a municipality or county in South Carolina, who performs plans review, inspection of one or more building systems (building, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and energy conservation), renders interpretations or makes technical decisions for building code compliance, is considered by law to be a building code enforcement officer.
The SC Building Codes Enforcement Officers' Registration Practice Act requires that all persons acting as a building code enforcement officer or contract inspector must be registered with the South Carolina Building Codes Council, before they may practice as a building code enforcement officer or contract inspector in SC. A contract inspector is defined as a person certified to perform a building inspection, other than a special inspection, in a construction trade discipline within a local jurisdiction on a contract basis.
Certifications Required for RegistrationA person applying for registration as a building code enforcement officer or contract inspector must be certified in one of the following classifications:
Building Codes Enforcement Officers
Building Official - A Building Official registrant is authorized to perform all tasks and inspections within the local jurisdiction's building inspection department. To qualify for a Building Official classification, a registrant must submit a certificate or examination record from a recognized code organization indicating that the applicant has been certified as a building official (CBO).
Commercial Inspector - A Commercial Inspector registrant is authorized to perform onsite inspections in two or more construction disciplines (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical), as determined by position description for the local jurisdiction by which employed, for all types of construction in all occupancy groups. To qualify for a Commercial Inspector classification, a registrant must submit certificates or examination records from a recognized code organization indicating that the applicant has been certified in two or more commercial inspector disciplines.
Residential Inspector - A Residential Inspector registrant is authorized to perform onsite building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical inspections on one and two family dwellings; multifamily dwellings three stories or less in height and not exceeding sixteen (16) dwelling units per building or other buildings or structures of light frame construction and not exceeding five thousand (5,000) square feet in total area (non-commercial). To qualify for a Residential Inspector classification, a registrant must submit certificates or examination records from a recognized code organization indicating that the applicant has been certified in the residential building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspector disciplines.
Single Discipline Inspector - A Single Discipline Inspector registrant is authorized to perform onsite inspections in one construction discipline, as determined by position description for the local jurisdiction by which employed, for all types of construction in all occupancy groups. To qualify for a Single Discipline Inspector classification, a registrant must submit a certificate or examination records from a recognized code organization, indicating that the applicant has been certified in the discipline (building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical) for which employed.
Plans Examiner - A Plans Examiner registrant is authorized to perform building plans review. To qualify for a Plans Examiner classification, a registrant must submit certificates or examination records from a recognized code organization, indicating that the applicant has been certified in the commercial building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans examiner disciplines.
Provisional Registration designates a non-renewable registration issued for a fixed time period to a building code enforcement officer, who is training for certification required for employment or advancement. To qualify for a Provisional Registration classification, a registrant must submit proof that the building code enforcement officer is presently employed by a municipality or county in South Carolina and is actively in training for a specific certification as a new employee or for advancement to a higher classification. A person applying for a Provisional Building Official registration must, within sixty (60) days of employment, take and pass at least one of the required exams for the Building Official Certificate. The maximum time for certification for a person registered in the provisional classification is as follows:
Building Official - Sixty (60) days for the first certificate, twelve (12) months for the second and twenty-four (24) months for the remaining certificates for the Certified Building Official certificate;
Commercial Inspector - one (1) certification within the first year, then a maximum of one (1) year for each additional certification for all disciplines for which employed, based on the position description for the local jurisdiction;
Residential Inspector - one (1) certification within the first year, then a maximum of one (1) year for each additional certification;
Commercial Plans Examiner - one (1) certification within the first year, then a maximum of one (1) year for each additional certification;
Residential Plans Examiner - one (1) certification within the first year, then a maximum of one (1) year for each additional certification;
Single Discipline Inspector - twelve (12) months for the discipline for which employed, based on the position description for the local jurisdiction.
Building Code Enforcement Officers:
Online Applications:
Initial Registration (Municipal or County - Non Provisional):*Must be employed by a jurisdiction or state agency
*Must have completed required ICC building code certifications
- Complete Building Code Enforcement Officers Registration Application
- Upload copy of valid driver's license, state issued id or passport and a copy of your social security card
- Upload the notarized Verification of Lawful Presence and Notarized Signature Affidavit
- Upload proof of employment with a municipality or county
- Upload a copy of the position description to be filled
- Upload copies of all building code related certifications
- Remit $50.00 application fee to transmit application to the Board
*Must be employed by a jurisdiction or state agency
- Complete Building Code Enforcement Officers Registration Application
- Upload copy of valid driver's license, state issued id or passport and a copy of your social security card
- Upload the notarized Verification of Lawful Presence and Notarized Signature Affidavit
- Upload proof of employment with a municipality or county
- Upload a copy of the position description to be filled by the applicant
- Remit $50.00 application fee to transmit application to the Board
*Must have completed required ICC building code certifications
- Complete Building Code Enforcement Officers Registration Application
- Upload copy of valid driver's license, state issued id or passport and a copy of your social security card
- Upload the notarized Verification of Lawful Presence and Notarized Signature Affidavit
- Upload copies of all building code related certifications
- Remit $50.00 application fee to transmit application to the Board
Download Forms and Instructions needed for electronic application here:
Code Enforcement Online Guidelines
Click here to begin your electronic application:
Online Electronic Application
Paper Application:
Initial Registration (Municipal or County - Non Provisional):*Must be employed by a jurisdiction or state agency
*Must have completed required ICC building code certifications
- Submit a completed Building Code Enforcement Officers Registration Application
- Submit proof of employment with a municipality or county
- Submit a copy of the position description to be filled
- Submit copies of all building code related certifications
- $50.00 application fee payable to the SC Building Codes Council
*Must be employed by a jurisdiction or state agency
- Submit a completed Building Code Enforcement Officers Registration Application
- Submit proof of employment with a municipality or county
- Submit a copy of the position description to be filled by the applicant
- $50.00 application fee payable to the SC Building Codes Council
*Must have completed required ICC building code certifications
- Submit a completed Building Code Enforcement Officers Registration Application
- Submit copies of all building code related certifications
- $50.00 application fee payable to the SC Building Codes Council
Code Enforcement Officer Registration Application:
Code Enforcement Officer Application
- Registrations are issued on a biennial (two year) cycle
- Each registration cycle starts on July 1 of each odd numbered year
- All registrations expire on June 30 of the next odd numbered year
- No person may practice as a codes enforcement officer without a current registration
- There is no grace period for practice if not reregistered by June 30
- Unregistered practice carries a maximum fine of $10,000
- Similar licenses or registrations from other states may be evaluated for equivalency
- Registration fees are not prorated
- New Limited registrations are no longer issued
- Provisional registrations may be issued to:
- new non-certified municipal or county employees, or
- existing municipal or county employees, fully certified in their current positions and training for advancement
- Provisional registrations are not renewable
- Limited and Provisional Registration Classifications are not available for registrants in contract status
- Registrations in "Municipal or County" status are issued to municipal or county employees only. A registrant who receives an IRS W-4 Form is deemed to be a municipal or county employee
- Registrations in "Contract" status are issued to individuals in private practice. A registrant who receives an IRS 1099 Form is deemed to be a contract employee
Continuing Education Requirements:
- 24 hours of continuing education per registration cycle. Reporting period is from July 1st to June 30th of each odd numbered year
- Continuing education cannot be carried over to a new registration cycle
- Proof of continuing education will be by audit
- At its meeting on November 20, 2019, the Building Codes Council determined that ICC examinations passed during the licensing cycle may count as one continuing education credit hour. Each licensee seeking continuing education credit for successfully passing one or more ICC examinations must submit proof of his or her examination result(s) to the Council for the one-hour credit.
For Code Enforcement Officers:
The form below must be completed and signed at the time of training by an approved Provider's Instructor or "In House" Moderator, if they do not provide an approved form.
Application for Course Approval
Continuing Education Verification Form
Approved Courses for Code Enforcement Officers
Approved Methods for Accruing CE Hours
For Course Providers:
To qualify for registration as a building code enforcement officer, an individual must be certified by a nationally recognized entity. The examination fee for certification for all individuals registered in the Provisional Classifications will be paid by the Council. The Council may also pay for additional examinations to advance to a higher classification within the registrant's job description.
Course Reimbursement:
Registered Building Code Enforcement Officers that have attained full certification may request to be scheduled for courses/exams of an advanced nature.
Building Code Enforcement officers that have received the CBO designation are eligible for continuing education courses only.
Certification courses/exams that are not approved and scheduled in advance by the Council will not be eligible for reimbursement.
One manual or set of study materials approved for certification courses will be eligible for payment by the Council. All manuals or study materials will be ordered and purchased by the Council, in the name of the building official.
Council must receive requests for approved certification courses by the course registration date.
Requests received after the registration date will be forwarded to the course provider with the understanding that the Council will pay for the advance registration fee. Any additional or late fees must be paid by the attendee/jurisdiction.
Council may establish a maximum payment per credit hour. For courses with a higher cost per hour, the costs in excess of the per-hour maximum, must be paid by the attendee/jurisdiction.
Examination Reimbursement:
Council must receive requests for approved certification exams by the exam registration deadline. Requests received after that date will be registered for the next scheduled exam date.
Council will pay the base fee for a special examination. Any additional fees over the base fee must be paid by the applicant/jurisdiction.
Applicants may be reimbursed for approved courses taken in the classification for which they are pursuing a registration. Complete the form below prior to registering for the course.
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