Registration and Exams
“Building codes enforcement officer” means a person employed by a local jurisdiction, who is responsible for administering a building inspection department, enforcement or rendering interpretations of building, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fuel gas and energy conservation codes, performing building plan review, or performing inspections on one or more building systems.
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.
To qualify for licensure, applicants must complete the online or paper application and submit it to the Council with the following items:
*Municipal or County registrants must be employed by a jurisdiction or state agency. Contract and non-provisional registrants must submit proof of the required certifications with the initial application.
- 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 if applicable
- Upload a copy of the position description to be filled
- Upload copies of all ICC certifications if applicable
- Remit $50.00 application fee to transmit application to the Board
Electronic Application:
Download Forms and Instructions needed for electronic application HERE.
Click HERE to begin your electronic application.
Paper Application:
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.
Required Exams for Certification:
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Building Official |
Building Codes & Standards |
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Commercial Inspector |
Commercial Building Inspector |
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Residential Inspector |
Residential Building Inspector |
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Commercial Plans Examiner |
Building Plans Examiner |
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Residential Plans Examiner |
Residential Plans Examiner |
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Building Inspector |
Commercial Building Inspector |
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Electrical Inspector |
Commercial Electrical Inspector |
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Mechanical Inspector |
Commercial Mechanical Inspector |
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Plumbing Inspector |
Commercial Plumbing Inspector |
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.
A registration not renewed in a timely manner, following expiration, will lapse and, at the discretion of Council, the registrant may be subject to examination before registration is reinstated.
An expired registration will be reinstated under the following conditions:
If the registrant has maintained his or her International Codes Council (ICC) certifications through the ICC maintenance program, a registration shall be reinstated in one of the methods prescribed below:
If the registration is in an inactive status for three years or less, the registrant shall submit proof of attendance of approved training classes equal to 24 contact hours prior to re-registration along with payment of fees for the current year, and a registration application.
If the registration is in an inactive status for more than three years, the registrant shall submit proof of attendance of approved training classes equal to 24 hours within the past two years prior to re-registration, payment of fees for the current year, and a registration application.
Code Enforcement Officers who are not currently employed by a local jurisdiction shall be placed in an "Inactive" status.
Costs for continuing education will not be paid or reimbursed by the Council while a registration is inactive or lapsed.
Continuing education accrued to qualify for registration reinstatement shall not count towards the required continuing education for the new registration cycle.