Bolthole Index

Chester County, South Carolina

Building permits, zoning and septic in Town of Great Falls, South Carolina

Town of Great Falls, South Carolina requires residential building permits, with Chester County Building + Zoning listing the town within its building and zoning jurisdiction.12 Great Falls has its own zoning ordinance; septic projects require state approval and a local written permit from the town superintendent where public sewer is unavailable.345

At a glance

Building permits
Required; Chester County Building + Zoning lists Great Falls in its jurisdiction12
Zoning
Town ordinance; confirm the parcel’s district before choosing a home design36
Septic
State approval plus a local written permit from the town superintendent45
Sewer connection
Required within 250 feet where gravity-flow connection is possible, following official notice7
Lot size and setbacks
District-specific residential requirements89
Owner-builder
State exemption is conditional; building codes and zoning still apply10
Floodplain
Town ordinance bars placing buildings in floodplains11

Who to call

Building permits

Chester County Building + Zoning

Building and zoning administration, plan review and inspections for Great Falls under the county’s stated jurisdiction

(803) 581-0942

1476 J.A. Cochran Bypass Chester, SC 29706

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Town of Great Falls Planning Commission / Town Hall

Town zoning and development questions; planning commission information; referral to the superintendent for local private-sewage approval

(803) 482-2055

[email protected]

810 Dearborn Street Great Falls, SC 29055

Septic permits

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Onsite Wastewater

Onsite wastewater application questions, permit records and final-inspection contacts

1-855-731-2504

[email protected]

Building permits

Chester County Building + Zoning — residential application requirements

Residential building application checklist and inspection sequence; confirm application to the Great Falls parcel with Building + Zoning

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Great Falls means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Town of Great Falls, SC?

Residential building permits are required in Great Falls, and Chester County Building + Zoning expressly includes the town in its building jurisdiction.12 The county department issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and zoning permits.2

South Carolina allows governmental agreements for building-code enforcement, so county administration inside town limits does not mean that unincorporated-county zoning standards replace the town ordinance.123 For a Great Falls project, ask Building + Zoning to identify the required building and trade applications, and confirm the town zoning district before finalizing plans.26

Who handles building permits and zoning questions in Town of Great Falls?

Chester County Building + Zoning is the building-permit and inspection contact for Great Falls under the county’s published jurisdiction statement; the county page also provides an online permitting and plan-review service.2 The residential checklist links the Evolve application portal.13

Great Falls Town Hall is the contact for town zoning and development questions, and the town Planning Commission oversees administration of locally adopted land-development regulations.14 Start a building application with the county department and take town ordinance or planning questions to Town Hall.214 Septic approval remains a separate state process, with a local superintendent’s written permit also required by the town code.54

Does Town of Great Falls have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Great Falls has zoning, and land, buildings and structures must conform to the regulations of the district where the parcel is located.3 The official zoning map is part of the town zoning chapter and is kept at Town Hall for public inspection.6

Residential lot size, building coverage, yard setbacks and building height are governed by the town’s district-specific dimensional requirements.891516 Ask Town Hall and Building + Zoning to identify the parcel’s district and the applicable dimensions before buying a narrow lot or ordering a home.1428 Great Falls subdivision approval is also required before transferring part of a proposed subdivision or issuing a building permit there.17

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in Town of Great Falls?

Great Falls requires an owner to connect at the owner’s expense when property used for occupancy or other covered purposes is within 250 feet of a public sanitary sewer and can connect by gravity flow; connection is due within 60 days after official notice.7 South Carolina will not issue an onsite wastewater permit where public sewer is accessible.18

Where public sewer is unavailable, the Great Falls code requires a written private-sewage permit signed by the town superintendent before construction, alongside state approval for septic tanks.4 SCDES must evaluate a new-home site and issue the septic construction permit before the county can issue the building permit; the installer must arrange the state final inspection before covering the system.519 Ask Town Hall for the superintendent’s local application and SCDES for the state application.14420

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Town of Great Falls?

We could not confirm whether Great Falls allows living in an RV on private land, temporary camping during construction, or a tiny home as a permanent dwelling; ask Town Hall and Chester County Building + Zoning about the proposed parcel and use.142 Great Falls district rules govern land and building uses, so obtain a specific zoning answer before purchasing a dwelling for the site.3

Manufactured/mobile-home permissions differ by district, and individual-lot homes and mobile-home parks are subject to separate town provisions.21 A manufactured-home provision does not establish permission for an RV or tiny home; request a determination for the actual structure and occupancy proposal.212

Building a home in Town of Great Falls: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the Great Falls zoning district and proposed residential use with Town Hall and Building + Zoning; resolve subdivision approval before a building application if the site is part of a proposed subdivision.6317142
  2. Establish sewer availability; where septic is appropriate, obtain SCDES approval and the town superintendent’s local written permit.1854
  3. Ask Building + Zoning to confirm its residential checklist for the town parcel: obtain the site address, recorded plat, tax map number, plans and water/sewer documentation before building-permit issuance.132
  4. Apply through the county’s residential portal and arrange the required inspections; the published checklist prohibits occupancy until final inspection passes and a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.13

What should you check before buying land in Town of Great Falls?

Check floodplain status before relying on a Great Falls parcel as a homesite: the town ordinance says building-placement permits shall not be issued in floodplains and limits zoning permits there to permitted open-air uses.11 A proposed subdivision must follow the town approval process before deed transfer or building-permit issuance.17

A private residential well requires South Carolina general-permit coverage through a Notice of Intent, and that state coverage does not authorize wells prohibited by local law; ask Town Hall about any town restrictions.2214 South Carolina also requires Department approval before opening, constructing or reconstructing an entrance onto a primary highway, subject to the statute’s scope.23 For land outside town limits, use the Chester County guide to check the county’s building and zoning jurisdiction.2

Watch-outs

  • Great Falls floodplain rules bar placing buildings in floodplains; confirm the proposed building footprint with Building + Zoning before buying.112
  • South Carolina’s owner-builder exemption requires personal supervision, qualifying owner/family occupancy and a recorded public notice; applicable building codes and zoning still apply.10
  • A qualifying farm-structure exemption does not cover a residence or a structure attached to a residence, and does not remove local authority to require building permits.24
  • We could not confirm Great Falls building-permit fees or private-land RV occupancy rules; ask Building + Zoning for the current fee schedule and a parcel-specific occupancy determination.2

Sources

  1. Building + Zoning – Chester County, SC (2026 county census)
  2. Chester County Building + Zoning (chestercountysc.gov)
  3. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  4. Great Falls Code of Ordinances, Sec. 42-23. Private sewage disposal (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  5. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  7. Great Falls Code of Ordinances, Sec. 42-22. Use of public sewers required (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  8. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  9. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  10. South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 59 — Residential Home Builders (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 46.118 (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  12. South Carolina Code Title 6, Chapter 9 — Building Codes (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chester County Building + Zoning — residential application requirements (chestercountysc.gov)
  14. Town of Great Falls Planning Commission / Town Hall (greatfallssc.gov)
  15. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  16. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  17. Land Development Regulations, Great Falls, South Carolina (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  18. Professional Soil Classifiers - Sewer Accessibility Verification (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic Tanks - Frequently Asked Questions (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Onsite Wastewater (des.sc.gov)
  21. Great Falls Zoning Ordinance (Town of Great Falls), quoted and re-checked
  22. Private Drinking Water Wells (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. scstatehouse.gov (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 6-9-65 (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Great Falls

Town of Great Falls’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Great Falls town limits.

    • Land, buildings, and structures must conform to the district regulations in which located.
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the area of zoning jurisdiction as described in section 46-1 is divided into the following districts: D-1 Development R-1 Residential, Low-Density R-2 Residential, Medium-Density R-3 Residential, High-Density C-1 Commercial, Central C-2 Commercial, General I-1 Industrial RIV River Preservation District”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Great Falls town limits.

    • The official zoning map is part of the zoning chapter and is kept at town hall for public inspection.
    “The boundaries of the districts listed in section 46-41 are established as shown on a map entitled “Zoning Map of the Town of Great Falls, South Carolina.” The zoning map is a part of this chapter.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential structures in Great Falls zoning districts.

    • Residential dimensional requirements are set by Table 1; individual district-table values require parcel district confirmation.
    “Lot size, building coverage, yard setbacks and building heights of residential structures and uses shall be governed by the requirements set forth in table 1.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential structures in Great Falls zoning districts.

    • Residential dimensional requirements are set by Table 1; individual district-table values require parcel district confirmation.
    “Lot size, building coverage, yard setbacks and building heights of residential structures and uses shall be governed by the requirements set forth in table 1.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential structures in Great Falls zoning districts.

    • Residential dimensional requirements are set by Table 1; individual district-table values require parcel district confirmation.
    “Lot size, building coverage, yard setbacks and building heights of residential structures and uses shall be governed by the requirements set forth in table 1.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential structures in Great Falls zoning districts.

    • Residential dimensional requirements are set by Table 1; individual district-table values require parcel district confirmation.
    “Lot size, building coverage, yard setbacks and building heights of residential structures and uses shall be governed by the requirements set forth in table 1.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured/mobile homes in D-1 and R-3 zoning districts inside Great Falls town limits.

    • Individual-lot mobile homes are subject to Sec. 46-228.
    • Mobile-home parks are subject to Sec. 46-227.
    • District permissions differ.
    “Mobile homes on individual lots subject to the provisions of section 46-228 [...] Mobile homes on individual lots not occupied by any other principal structure, subject to provisions of section 46-228.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Great Falls town limits where public sewer is unavailable.

    • Town superintendent issues the local written permit.
    • System type, capacity, location, and layout must comply with state health-department recommendations.
    • Septic tanks require state health-department approval.
    “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the superintendent.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Houses, buildings, and properties inside Great Falls corporate limits with public sanitary sewer available by gravity flow.

    • Applies where the property is within 250 feet of a public sanitary sewer line and can connect by gravity flow.
    • Owner bears expense and must connect within 60 days after official notice.
    • The ordinance addresses sewer, not a mandatory public-water connection.

    public sewer distance: <= 250 feet (Connection must permit gravity flow into the public sewer.) · connection deadline after official notice: <= 60 days

    “The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes within the corporate limits of the town and located within 250 feet of a line of a public sanitary sewer to which the house, building or property may be connected so that sewage will flow therefrom and into such sewer line by gravity is hereby required at his own expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect the facilities directly with the line of public sanitary sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article within 60 days after date of official notice to do so.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Proposed subdivisions inside Great Falls town limits.

    • Approval is required before deed transfer of a proposed subdivision part or issuance of a building permit.
    • Procedure includes sketch-plan review, preliminary-plat review and approval, and final-plat review and approval.
    • Some existing-road subdivisions may qualify for preliminary-plat review exemption if stated conditions are met.
    “Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed, before any deed transfer of any part thereof and before any permit for the erection of a structure in such proposed subdivision shall be granted, the subdividing owner, or his authorized agent, shall apply for and secure approval of such proposed subdivision in accordance with the following procedure:”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in floodplain areas inside Great Falls town limits.

    • Only permitted open-air land uses may receive zoning permits.
    • The ordinance says no permits shall issue for placing buildings in floodplains.
    “Zoning permits will be issued for only those open air uses of land which are permitted in the district. Because potential flooding is a threat to the health, safety and welfare of owners and occupants of properties located there, permits shall not be issued for the placing of buildings in floodplains.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Great Falls or Chester County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Residential construction inside Great Falls town limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Great Falls town limits, served by Chester County Building + Zoning.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Great Falls town limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Great Falls town limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Great Falls town limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Great Falls publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Chester County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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