Building permits, zoning and septic in the Town of South Congaree, South Carolina

At a glance

Building permits

Lexington County, after Town zoning approval¹

Zoning

Town of South Congaree makes final compliance decisions²

Zoning permit fee

$50; zoning variance fee $175⁴

Septic permits

SCDES approval before installation where sewer is unavailable³

Owner-builder

Conditional state licensing exemption; Town and County paperwork still required⁵¹

Private wells

State Notice of Intent before construction; residential well fee $70⁶

Who to call

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

Do you need a building permit in the Town of South Congaree, SC?

South Congaree directs applicants to obtain Town zoning approval and then apply to Lexington County for building or mechanical permits.¹ The Town’s construction instructions cover building, remodeling, repairing, moving or tearing down a building, plus work on electrical, gas, plumbing or mechanical systems.⁷ Contact the Lexington County Building Inspections and Permits Division at 803-785-8130 to discuss the building permit application after Town approval.⁸ South Congaree’s zoning permit fee is $50, while building-code fees use separate residential and commercial schedules and trade applications.⁴

Does the Town of South Congaree have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

South Congaree has local zoning, and final zoning-compliance determinations belong to the Town.² Ask Town Zoning and Sign Permits to confirm the parcel’s district, proposed use, required setbacks and lot dimensions before settling on a house layout.⁷ South Congaree publishes zoning-permit and variance applications; the zoning permit costs $50 and the zoning variance application costs $175.⁴ South Congaree’s Planning Commission reviews and approves all new subdivisions, so a proposed land split needs Town review as well as a plan for the eventual building project.⁹¹

How do septic permits and wells work inside the Town of South Congaree?

For South Congaree property without public or community sewer, SCDES approval and a septic installation permit are required before installation.³ The SCDES Columbia Local Office serves Lexington County and can be reached at (803) 896-0620.¹⁰ A new septic system must be inspected before it is covered, and SCDES issues approval to operate when installation meets state standards.¹¹ A private residential well requires a Notice of Intent for General Permit coverage before construction, with a $70 residential-well fee; that state permit does not override prohibitions in other laws or local ordinances.⁶

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of South Congaree?

We could not confirm South Congaree’s rules for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, accessory dwellings or minimum dwelling floor area; ask Town Zoning and Sign Permits about the exact proposed use before buying for that purpose.⁷ South Congaree makes the final zoning-compliance decision, so obtain a parcel-specific answer rather than assuming a small dwelling qualifies.² South Carolina may consider permitted composting or incinerating toilet systems on sites unsuitable for an onsite wastewater permit, subject to engineered plans, local-code compliance and state construction and operating approval.¹² Where pressurized water generates gray water, a separately permitted gray-water treatment system is also required.¹³

Building a home in the Town of South Congaree: what comes first?

1. Obtain zoning approval from the Town of South Congaree for the proposed project.¹
2. If sewer is unavailable, obtain SCDES approval and the septic installation permit before installation.³
3. Apply to Lexington County for building or mechanical permits; owners doing their own work must contact the County division, fill out the County Disclosure Statement and complete a Public Record Notice.¹
4. Arrange the septic inspection before the system is covered and obtain SCDES approval to operate.¹¹

South Carolina’s owner-builder licensing exemption is conditional on personal supervision, qualifying owner or family occupancy, appropriate licensed help and compliance with zoning and building codes.⁵ Ask County Building Inspections about the final building inspections and occupancy authorization; we could not confirm the Town’s general certificate-of-occupancy requirement.⁸

What should you check before buying in the Town of South Congaree?

Start with Town zoning approval and County building-permit requirements for the planned project; inside South Congaree, the Town and County each have a role.¹ For land outside town limits, consult the Lexington County guide for the County building-permit and zoning answers applicable in the County’s jurisdiction.¹⁴¹⁵ Lexington County’s soil data—not a South Congaree parcel test—rates 18.2% of soils “not limited” for conventional septic drain fields; the remainder is not proof septic is impossible, and a site evaluation remains essential.¹⁶ South Carolina’s 2024 mandatory codes are scheduled for local implementation on January 1, 2027; ask County Building Inspections which code edition will govern your application.¹⁷⁸

Watch-outs

• South Congaree zoning approval and Lexington County building permits are separate steps; SCDES handles septic approval where sewer is unavailable.¹³
• We could not confirm residential RV or tiny-home occupancy rules in South Congaree; ask Town Zoning and Sign Permits before relying on either as housing during construction.⁷
• South Carolina’s owner-builder exemption does not remove zoning or building-code obligations, and sale or rental within 2 years after completion creates a presumption that construction was for sale or rent unless the commission approves otherwise.⁵

Sources

1. Permits | South Congaree, SC (Town of South Congaree), quoted and re-checked
2. Zoning | South Congaree, SC (Town of South Congaree), quoted and re-checked
3. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (Town of South Congaree), quoted and re-checked
4. Zoning | South Congaree, SC (Town of South Congaree), quoted and re-checked
5. South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 59 — Residential Home Builders (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
6. Private Drinking Water Wells (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
7. Town of South Congaree Zoning and Sign Permits (townofsouthcongaree.org)
8. Lexington County Building Inspections and Permits Division (townofsouthcongaree.org)
9. Boards-Committees | South Congaree, SC (Town of South Congaree), quoted and re-checked
10. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Columbia Local Office (des.sc.gov)
11. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (Town of South Congaree), quoted and re-checked
12. South Carolina State Register Vol. 45, Issue 5 — Regulation 61-56 (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
13. South Carolina State Register Vol. 45, Issue 5 — Regulation 61-56 (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
14. Building Permits FAQs (2026 county census)
15. Zoning Ordinance Information (2026 county census)
16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
17. 2024 Building Code Modification Index (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.