CODE
ENFORCEMENT
The City
of Dillon strives to make working in our community a pleasant
experience. We are quite eager to assist contractors in the
growth, development, and renovation of our town. We are enthusiastic
about your projects in our community and know that you will
help us in assuring that the construction industry meets or
exceeds the standards of the International Building Codes.
Public health, safety and general welfare of our citizens
is a top priority within our city. It is our goal to insure
that structures within our jurisdiction meet these standards.
We hope that you will find our inspections department knowledgeable,
helpful, and efficient. Any suggestions that you may have
are always welcome.
Allow us to thank you in advance for your interest in the
City of Dillon and your cooperation as you meet our guidelines.
What
is needed to do business as a contractor?
A City of Dillon Business License is required
of all contractors and subcontractors that will be working
on a job. All construction projects must submit a listing
of all subcontractors prior to beginning work. Final Inspection
will be denied until all subcontractors have purchased the
necessary business license and permits. The business license
is based on the gross cost of the job. Rates for licenses
are as follows:
City Resident
Contractor- $50.00 for first $10,000 gross
1.00 each additional $1,000.
County
Resident Contractor- $75.00 for first $10,000 gross
1.50 each additional $1,000.
Out of
County Contractor- $100.00 for first $10,000 gross
2.00 each additional $1,000.
***
ALL permit types requires a contract price be given even though
the cost of the job usually have nothing to do with the cost
of the permit. This “cost of job” category relates
directly to business license.***
All contractors
involved with work on a residential structure are required
to be registered with the South Carolina Home Builders Association.
A copy of your wallet card will be required to obtain permits.
Applications are available in the permit office. All specialty
tradesmen are required to be registered. State licensed Residential
Contractors will not need this registration card but will
need to provide proof of license.
Proof of not less than five thousand dollars ($5.000.00) corporate
surety bond, executed by a surety company authorized to transact
business in the State of South Carolina, is required by all
contractors regardless of trade. The said bond shall show
the applicant as principals on the bond and condition such
that the principal will comply with all provisions of all
City of Dillon Ordinances and requirements, including, by
way of example but not by way of limitation, building codes,
building codes standards, plumbing codes, mechanical codes,
housing codes, codes for the abatement of dangerous buildings,
fire codes, and fire code standards, pertaining to the type
of work that the contractor’s or sub-contractor's license
is required in respect of and further conditioned that the
City, in its sole discretion, or any person or entity that
may be injured or damaged by the principal's failure to comply
with such ordinances and requirements may bring action upon
such bond to recover damages suffered in respect of such failure.
The City
of Dillon has a nine member Board of Governors, appointed
by Council, that regulates the rules and regulations imposed
on the construction industry. Any complaints or grievances
against the permitting process, fee schedules, testing, and
items requiring a permit may be directed to their attention.
Tradesmen
in the Electrical Plumbing, Gas and Technical fields are required
to provide proof of proper licensing. South Carolina Master
Certificates will be accepted, as will City of Dillon Master
cards. Other State 1icenses may also be accepted. After each
individual card or State license is reviewed and verified
by the Code Enforcement Office and the Board of Governors,
a decision will be made on its validity. A 24-hour wait may
be necessary so that we may better research the credentials
of a Master Tradesman.
Liability
Insurance vs. Surety Bonds
It is often argued that liability insurance is an acceptable
alternative to a bonding requirement. Liability insurance
does offer significant protection, but differs from bonds
in that liability insurance is designed to protect the policyholder,
not the consumer. Only bonds protect the consumer. Liability
insurance is a two-party contract between the insurance company
and the insured. If a claim is made, it’s the insured
that files for loss that they have suffered. Bonds a three
party instrument, whereby the surety company assures the consumer
that the license and permit holder will live up to their obligations.
If a claim is made, the consumer can make that claim directly
against the bond. If you only have liability insurance in
force and the contractor skips town or otherwise is not in
a position to make the claim, then the consumer is simply
out of luck because that consumer cannot make a claim directly
against the contractor's insurance. Surety bonds and liability
insurance together are important tool for the protection of
consumers. Surety bonds also protect government revenues by
guaranteeing that fees, taxes and receipts are
Paid. If a contractor goes bankrupt or skips town, the bond
may be the only means o£ collecting these fees.
Proof
of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) corporate
surety bond, executed by a surety company authorized to transact
business in the State of South Carolina is required by all
contractors regardless of trade.
[SURETY
BOND SAMPLE – PDF FILE]
City
of Dillon Cards
City of Dillon cards are to be renewed on or before July 1
of each calendar year. Renewals will be reviewed annually
by the Board o£ Governor's. Contractor's who have failed
to acquire proper permits, pay fees, or fail to request inspections
will be denied cards. Failure to renew a card within 90 days
will result in cancellation of the license. A State license
will be required before further permits will be issued. Effective
July 1, 1994, the City of Dillon will grandfather those persons
currently holding City Master Cards, all others will be required
to show proof of a State license prior to permit issuance.
Other
State regulations may apply to some trades. In the event that
there is a more stringent State requirement, the City of Dillon
will enforce the State of South Carolina laws.
When
is a Permit Required?
The City of Dillon requires permits for all new construction
projects as well as many alteration jobs. A Certificate of
Zoning Compliance is required before any building or remodeling
may take place. Zoning regulations within the corporate limits
may prohibit some additions and enclosures. It is very important
that these regulations be reviewed well before building is
expected to begin.
It is
always best to inquire about the need for a permit if there
is a gray area. The penalty for work without a permit is a
double fee. Fees charged or paid wrongfully will be refunded.
It is always better to be safe than sorry.
New construction
projects require a 24-hour wait once a complete application
is received. All structures that exceed 5,000 square feet
must present site plans as well as architectural plans prior
to permits being issued. The seal of a registered South Carolina
architect or engineer is required on all such structures.
All assembly, educational, and institutional occupancies are
required to submit sealed drawings as well. Every new construction
project is required to submit a written or drawn description
o£ the facility as well as a site schematic showing
the location of the building and all side, front, and rear
setbacks. No permits will be issued until the needed information
is submitted.
Room enclosures,
additions, appurtenant structures, porches, and decks must
submit written or drawn intentions. These may be rough sketches
but dimensions must be exact. The 24-hour application is required
although the wait may be waived if sufficient evidence to
assure zoning compliance is submitted.
Roofing,
pool installation, siding installation and other similar jobs
require separate permits. Be sure to check with the office
before beginning such jobs. A wait is usually not required
but a permit is.
Trailers
are required to have permits. A copy of the bill of sale and
a plat of the property that the trailer will be placed on
is required. The requirement for plat will be waived if the
trailer is being placed in a trailer park.
Building
Permits
Building permits are based on a fee scale. The total gross
cost of the job including all subcontracts will be used to
factor the fee. A copy of the actual contract to construct
or reliance on the SBCCI Building Valuation table will be
used to determine a reasonable assessment of the contract
price. (SBCCI updates this table quarterly-- copies of the
current table are available at the Permit office.)
Building
Fee Table
Estimated Cost of Construction: Permit Fee:
$2000 or less $15.00
$2,001
up to $15,000 $15.00 for the first $2,000 plus $4.00 for each
additional thousand or fraction thereof up to $50,000
$15,001
up to $50,000 $67.00 for the first $15,000 plus $3.00 for
each additional thousand or fraction thereof up to $50,000
$50,001
up to $100,000 $172.00 for the first $50,000 plus $2.50 for
each additional thousand or fraction thereof up to $100,000
$100,001
up to $500,000 $297.00 for the first $100,000 plus $2.00 for
each additional thousand or fraction thereof up to
$500,000
$500,001
and up $1,097.00 for the first $500,000 plus $1.25 for each
additional thousand or fraction thereof.
Demolition
Permits
Demolition permits are required for properties being completely
removed or torn down. Moving permits are required for houses
and trailers that are moved within the City limits or being
moved out of the corporate limits. Other requirements of the
S.C. Highway Department must also be met. These arrangements
are the responsibility of the contractor.
Demolition
Fees
A $25.00 fee will be charged for the filing and clean-up inspection
of structures being demolished.
Moving
Permits
A $25.00 fee will be charged for moving any building or structure.
Plan
Checking Fee
When a plan is required to be submitted, a plan-checking fee
shall be paid along with the building permit fee. The plan
checking fee shall be equal to one-half of the building permit
as based on the estimated cost of construction. There is no
fee for site plan review. Residential Construction exceeding
5,000 square feet require plan review.
Pool
Permits
A $50.00 fee will be charged to cover the inspections needed
for the construction and plumbing of a pool. A separate electrical
permit will be required.
Sign
Permits
Sign permits are required. The permit fee will be based on
the actual construction cost of the sign as if it were a building.
Signs that exceed 25' in height will require drawings that
carry an architect or engineer's seal. A separate electrical
permit will be required for lighted or animated signs.
Mechanical
Trades
All new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and gas work will
require a permit. Appropriate calcu1ations and information
about equipment to be installed will be required.
Heat pump
replacement, water heater change out, and service change out
require
permits. An electrical permit will be required when new branch
circuits are added to the
panel. Plumbing permits will be required when water supply
lines have additions made to them that require a drain. The
addition of a new fixture with a supply line and a drain requires
a permit.
Simple replacement of an existing outlet or fixture can be
made without a permit. The replacement of commodes or faucets
does not require a permit. Anytime that gas 1ines are disconnected
and then reconnected, a pressure test is required.
Remember,
if there is a question or gray area it is better to ask than
to be found doing work without a permit.
Electrical
permits are based on service size.
Plumbing
permits are based on total number of fixtures or appliances
supplied with water and/or sewer.
Gas permits
are based on the total number of fixtures.
Mechanical
permits will be based on the tonnage or BTU's of the equipment
being installed.
FEES
Plumbing
Fees
Permit Fee: $10.00 Sewer Connection: $ 5.00
Replace or Repair Sewer: $ 5.00 (10 L.F. or more requires
a permit)
Water Connection: $ 5.00
Fixture Fee: $ 2.50 (each fixture) (including water and drainage
piping)
Sprinkler Heads: $ .25 (each) (interior and lawn)
Additional Inspections $ 10.00
Water Heater Change Out $ 10.00 flat fee
(Water line connection, electric supp1y or gas lines will
be inspected at this time. A Master license is required in
Plumbing and Electrical or Gas to perform this change
out.)
Lawn Sprinklers require a permit and business license.
Remodeling: No permit required for replacing any fixture or
valves as long as water lines or plumbing drainage lines are
not moved or altered.
Electrical
Fees
Residential
HEATING
AND COOLING
Permit $10.00
Up to 5 tons $ 3.00 per ton
Over 5 tons $ 1.00 per ton
Duct work (each unit) $ 10.00
Additional Inspections $ 10.00
Temporary Start-up Inspection $ 5.00
Each individual
unit is calculated separately while multiple units on the
same site may be covered under one permit.
Change Out of an existing unit without changing the duct system
requires a $5.00 permit fee and a $10.00 inspection fee. This
permit covers the changing of the electrical circuit to the
unit or the installation of a disconnect at the unit. The
permit also covers the installation of gas if the unit is
replaced with a gas unit.
REFRIGERATION
Permit fee $15.00
0.1 'to 5 'tons (H.P.) $10.00
5.1 'to 15 'tons (H.P.) $15.00
15 'tons (H.P.)- up $20.00
FOSSIL
FUEL BURNING EQUIPMENT/BOILERS-HEATING EQUIPMENT
Permit Fee $15.00
0.1 'to 50,000 BTU $10.00
50,000 'to 100,000 BTU $15.00
100,001 'to 200,000 BTU $20.00
200,001 BTU -up $25.00
Gas
Fees
Permit Fee and First Outlet $10.00
Additional Outlets $ 5.00 each
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS
Inspections are required to close out a permit. It is the
responsibility of the contractor to request inspections as
work progresses, although it is not unusual for random progress
inspection to be made. The Field Inspections Officer will
be glad to review the inspections required of each permit
issued. Failure to close out permits in a timely and reasonable
manner will result in denial of additional permits. Final
electrical inspections may be held up until all contractors
on a job have been properly inspected and permits have been
closed out.
Permits must be paid in full at the time they are issued.
Permits must be applied for in person and signed at the time
of issuance. Only those contractors that comply with local
laws will be issued permits. Individual homeowners are allowed
to perform work on their primary residence provided that a
permit is obtained and that they have no intention of selling
the residence within two years. No business license is required
of the homeowner provided they do all of the work themselves.
All applicable tap fees and construction fees relating to
City utilities are due and payab1e at the time of application
for permits. No permits will be issued until tap fees are
paid. Properties 1ocated outside of the City limits are required
by Council policy to sign to annex into the corporate limits
in exchange for access to City owned utilities. No permits
will be issued until proper papers are signed.
No permits will be issued until the property owner has had
proper c1earance of the Planning and Zoning Board. This rule
pertains primarily to properties that have recently subdivided
or to persons that have purchased more than one 1ot and desire
to build across lot lines.
Other
Information
Permits may be obtained in the City of Dillon Code Enforcement
Department between the hours of 8:00 -10:00 am and 3:00 -5:00
pm.
Inspections
will be perform between the hours of 10:00 - 12:00 am and
1:00 -3:00 pm, except in cases of emergency such as e1ectrical,
gas, sewer or water service repair.
Business
Licenses may be obtained in the Business License Department
between the hours of 8:00 am -5:00 pm.
Copies
of all currant codes may be reviewed in the local Code Enforcement
Office. Copies are also avai1able to purchase at the current
SBCCI membership rate: www.sbcci.com
Additional
Information and Resources
State trade licensing information may be obtained by contacting
South Carolina Licensing Board for Contractors
www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/contractors
The South
Carolina Residential Home Builders Commission may be contacted
at 2221 Devine Street, Suite 530, Columbia, South Carolina
29205. (803) 896-4686: http://www.hbaofsc.com
The Southern
Building Code Congress may be contacted at 900 Montclair
Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35213. (205) 591-1853.
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