STATE LICENSE
ConditionalSC LLR — Contractor's Licensing Board (co…
Commercially, the CLB 'Concrete' subclassification covers forming and placing, sidewalks, driveways, curbs, foundations, piers and slabs; streets, roads, parking lots and highways belong to 'Concrete Paving' (S.C. Code § 40-11-410(2)(b), (4)(b)). Either is required once the total cost exceeds $10,000 (§ 40-11-30). A Building licensee may self-perform ancillary concrete up to 20% of total cost.
On homes, the Commission's 'Masons' classification expressly includes poured-in-place concrete foundations such as footings and reinforced slabs (Reg. 106-1), so that work over $500 needs a specialty registration. Whether residential flatwork alone — driveways, patios, sidewalks — needs a registration is not spelled out in the classifications reviewed.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
South Carolina turns every permit desk into a licensing checkpoint: a city or county building official must refuse a permit unless the applicant shows the required state license or an exemption, and must report suspected violators to LLR (S.C. Code § 40-11-350 for Contractor's Licensing Board work; § 40-59-280 for residential work). Local business licenses are a separate tax layer standardized by § 6-1-400: the license year runs May 1 – April 30, and a license issued on a construction contract may instead expire when the project is completed. Whether the job sits inside the City of Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, or Myrtle Beach — or in unincorporated Charleston, Richland, Greenville, or Horry County — the state credential is the same; what changes is which desk issues the permit and which jurisdiction collects the business license tax.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every South Carolina county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Concrete streets, roads, and parking lots are Concrete Paving under General Contractors–Highway, not the Concrete specialty.
A Building licensee may self-perform concrete directly tied to the building only up to 20% of total construction cost; beyond that it needs a Concrete licensee.
An owner pouring sidewalks or driveways on their own residential property needs no permit and no license (§ 40-59-265(A)(1)(e)).
A practical sequence for a new concrete contractor in South Carolina. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
General construction over $10,000 without a CLB license is a misdemeanor.
An unlicensed entity may not sue to enforce the contract.
Residential specialty contracting without registration is a misdemeanor and forfeits lien rights.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Whether residential concrete flatwork (driveways, patios, sidewalks) by a contractor requires a specialty registration or a residential builder license · PSI exam fees for the Concrete technical exam (paid to PSI) · Jurisdiction-specific business license rates and any local trade-license overlays in Charleston, Columbia/Richland County, Greenville, and Horry County/Myrtle Beach were not researched for this record — see the local office records
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.