Mount Pleasant New Construction: How to obtain a building permit

Posted by Lee and Katherine Keadle on Thursday, December 13th, 2012 at 10:52am.

Applying for a building permit in Charleston is not just a one-step process, so it’s best to get your application in as soon as possible. The town of Mount Pleasant is especially particular, so it can sometimes be a lengthier process for this suburb. As a builder, you must be licensed, and your license must be updated. Then you may start submitting information to the Town of Mount Pleasant’s Planning and Development Department for review. If you pass this review, you can then get a permit to build the home and sell it in the Charleston real estate market for a profit.

The first step is to submit a Building Permit Application for New Homes. The Town of Mount Pleasant has a website, www.townofmountpleasant.com/, where you can click on Planning (under Departments). The Building Inspection, Planning, and Engineering Divisions are combined for the Planning and Development Department. If you need specific information on a parcel of land, information about zoning, or maps, they are available to view in this department. Christiane Farrell is the Director, and her contact information is: 100 Ann Edwards Ln., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Ph: (843) 884-1229 Fx: (843) 856-2195. The Planning and Development office is open Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Planning and Development Department has many duties. The department is split into two divisions: Planning and Engineering, and also the Building Inspection Division. Among being the Board and Commission, some of these duties and responsibilities of the Planning and Engineering Division include enforcing and administering the Town’s land development regulations and zoning ordinances. The Planning Department also issues the Subdivision development requirements, design guidelines, and tree protection guidelines. It has the authority to re-zone parcels and issue sign permits. It’s also active in the implementation of the GIS Mapping system to organize parcels of land for taxing as well as documenting boundaries and ownership of Charleston real estate.

The Building Inspection Division is in charge of issuing approvals for Mount Pleasant new construction plans, construction permits, and Certificates of Occupancy (or CO’s). It makes sure that builders are in ADA compliance and building code compliance, and it checks to see that the Charleston new homes are within flood zone guidelines, the street lighting is taken care of, and that municipal impact fees are paid in full. It also includes the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals where specific cases are brought to the board for special approval.

After you submit your application to the Planning and Development Department, you will be contacted upon review of your Mount Pleasant new construction application. There are no specific time frames on the application indicating how long it may take to hear back from the department. Time frames vary from application to application regarding Charleston new homes. Getting started and diving into the application is the fastest way to obtain your building permit.

If you have any questions about this process, we specialize in Mount Pleasant real estate (and new construction homes make up the majority of our sales). Feel free to email or call us!

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