STATE LICENSE
RequiredSC LLR — Residential Builders Commission …
Carpenters — 'rough and general carpentry work on new and existing structures' — are a named residential specialty, and any residential specialty work over $500 requires registration (S.C. Code §§ 40-59-20(7)(j), 40-59-220(A); Reg. 106-1). But a specialty registrant may not build additions or do structural work unless a licensed residential builder or general contractor supervises (§ 40-59-20(7); RBC FAQ).
On commercial jobs over $10,000, wood framing of buildings falls under General Contractors–Building, while metal and composite structural members — including riveting, welding and rigging — are the Structural Framing subclassification (§ 40-11-410). Building licensees may self-perform limited ancillary concrete work up to 20% of total cost.
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. For residential specialty trades, § 40-59-240(C) adds a twist: counties and municipalities may require their own examination and license, but may not re-examine a contractor who already passed a Commission-approved exam in that trade.
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.
A carpenter registrant frames under a licensed builder; building a house, an addition, or an enclosed porch independently requires a residential builder or general contractor license.
Structural roof upgrades for residential solar must be performed by a residential builder, a registered carpenter, or a CLB Building/Structural Framing licensee.
A registration holds at most three classifications; more requires the residential builder exam and license (§ 40-59-240(A)).
A practical sequence for a new framing 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.
Engaging in residential specialty contracting without registration is a misdemeanor.
General construction over $10,000 without a CLB license is a misdemeanor.
An entity working on a project without the required license must immediately withdraw and may not continue as a subcontractor.
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 a PSI technical exam applies to Structural Framing (it is not on the CLB's non-technical list, implying one does) · RBC specialty registration renewal fee amount · 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.