Bolthole Index

Lancaster County, South Carolina

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

Building permits in the Town of Kershaw, South Carolina are enforced by Lancaster County, which the Town's code says has assumed responsibility for building and safety codes in town1. Zoning in Kershaw is administered by the Lancaster County Zoning Office under a Town of Kershaw ordinance2. Septic permits come from the state, and the Town also requires written Town Council approval34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; Lancaster County enforces building codes in town15
Zoning
Administered by the Lancaster County Zoning Office under a Town of Kershaw ordinance6
Septic
State permit plus written Town Council approval; sewer connection required near Town lines347
Owner-builder
Homeowners may do their own work but still need a permit and inspection8
Manufactured homes
Water and sewer are prerequisites unless Town Council authorizes otherwise9

Who to call

Building permits

Lancaster County Building Services

Building permits, plan review and inspections; the Town of Kershaw code assigns building-code enforcement in town to Lancaster County

803-285-1969

101 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29720

Zoning

Lancaster County Zoning Office

Administers the Town of Kershaw zoning ordinance along with the county's own Unified Development Ordinance

101 N Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29720

Septic permits

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)

Statewide septic site approvals and permits to install; required before the county will issue a building permit

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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

Yes. The Town of Kershaw's code states that Lancaster County has assumed responsibility for regulating and enforcing building and safety codes in town, so building permits and inspections run through the county's Building Services office rather than a Town counter110.

Homeowners doing their own work get no free pass on paperwork. Kershaw's code lets a homeowner install or maintain buildings, wiring or plumbing on their own property if the owner does the work and the family uses it exclusively, but the same code says this does not exempt the owner from obtaining a permit and having the work inspected85. South Carolina's owner-builder law adds that the owner must personally sign the permit application and file a public notice with the register of deeds11.

We could not confirm a permit fee schedule specific to Kershaw; ask Lancaster County Building Services.

Who issues building permits in Kershaw, and how do you reach them?

Lancaster County Building Services handles building permits for Kershaw addresses, based on the Town code's assignment of enforcement to the county1. The office issues residential and commercial building permits for new construction and renovations10. Its phone number is 803-285-1969, and it sits in the county administration building at 101 N Main Street in Lancaster10.

The county reviews plans before it issues a permit and inspects throughout construction1210. After a successful final inspection, the county issues a Certificate of Occupancy for residential construction in Lancaster County13. We could not confirm whether the Town adds its own step for new homes, so ask the Town of Kershaw offices as well.

The county's separate rule requiring a permit for work in unincorporated areas does not govern land inside town limits14.

Does Kershaw have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

The Lancaster County Zoning Office says it administers the Town of Kershaw Ordinance alongside the county's own Unified Development Ordinance, so zoning questions for a Kershaw lot go to that office26. The county's own district tables apply to unincorporated land, not to town lots15.

We could not confirm Kershaw's zoning districts, minimum lot sizes, setbacks, or any rule on RV living, temporary camping, tiny homes or accessory dwellings. Do not assume the county's rules apply in town, and do not assume an absence of rules. Ask the Lancaster County Zoning Office for the Kershaw zoning map and ordinance before you buy.

For manufactured homes, Kershaw's code makes water and sewer facilities a prerequisite to locating or occupying a mobile home inside the corporate limits unless Town Council authorizes otherwise9.

How do septic permits work inside Kershaw?

Septic permits for a Kershaw lot start with the state. South Carolina law requires site approvals and permits for all septic systems, issued by the Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), and the county cannot issue a building permit without the septic permit1617.

Kershaw adds its own layer: where sewerage facilities are not available, septic tanks may be permitted only with the written approval of Town Council, built and maintained to state Board of Health rules3.

Sewer comes first where it exists. Within 250 feet of a Town water or sanitary sewer line, residences and buildings must connect not less than 60 days after the line is installed, with an exception for older septic tanks that meet DHEC requirements until problems develop7. State rules also bar an onsite permit where public sewer is accessible18.

Lancaster County's conventional septic suitability is mixed: USDA rates about 42% of county soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so a site evaluation matters19. The state's well permit costs $70 for a residential well, but we could not confirm a Kershaw-specific well rule20.

Building a home in Kershaw: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Lancaster County Zoning Office what Kershaw zoning applies to the lot and whether the use is allowed2.
  2. Find out whether a Town water or sewer line is within 250 feet; if so, plan to connect7.
  3. If sewer is not available, get written Town Council approval and an SCDES site approval and septic permit316.
  4. Apply to Lancaster County Building Services for the building permit; the county reviews plans before issuing it12.
  5. Schedule inspections through construction; owner-builders still need inspections21.
  6. Pass the final inspection to receive a Certificate of Occupancy before moving in13.

What stays with Lancaster County, and what to check before you buy

Septic and wells are state matters, not Town ones, and building enforcement sits with Lancaster County Building Services221. For land outside town limits, use the Lancaster County page, since county rules for unincorporated land differ from Kershaw's.

For context, Lancaster County's effective property tax rate is 0.5%23 and its median property tax bill is $1,487 a year24. Floodplain development in Lancaster County needs a separate floodplain permit application25. A driveway onto a state highway needs an SCDOT permit26.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Kershaw's zoning districts, lot sizes, setbacks, or rules on RVs, tiny homes and accessory dwellings; ask the Lancaster County Zoning Office before you buy2.
  • Do not use the county's unincorporated-area permit and zoning rules for a lot inside Kershaw town limits; the Town's own code governs there1.
  • Kershaw's code says a septic tank needs written Town Council approval and state compliance, and connection to Town sewer can be mandatory near a line37.
  • We could not confirm a Kershaw-specific building permit fee schedule or a short-term rental rule; ask the Lancaster County Building Services office and the Town10.

Sources

  1. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article II: Building Codes (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  2. Lancaster County Zoning Office (lancastercountysc.gov)
  3. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, § 36-131 Septic Tanks Permitted Where Sewer Connections Not Available (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder, quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, § 8-29 Homeowner Provisions (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  6. Zoning | Lancaster County, SC, quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, § 36-130 Required for Human Habitation (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, § 8-29 Homeowner Provisions (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, § 8-83 Utilities (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  10. Lancaster County Building Services (lancastercountysc.gov)
  11. South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 59 — Residential Home Builders (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building, quoted and re-checked
  13. Residential Construction, quoted and re-checked
  14. Building | Lancaster County, SC, quoted and re-checked
  15. Adopted Unified Development Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  16. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) (des.sc.gov)
  18. Professional Soil Classifiers - Sewer Accessibility Verification (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. 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
  20. Private Drinking Water Wells (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Town of Kershaw Code of Ordinances, § 8-29 Homeowner Provisions (Town of Kershaw), quoted and re-checked
  22. Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Floodplain Development Permit/Application, quoted and re-checked
  26. scstatehouse.gov (South Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Kershaw

Town of Kershaw’s own rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A homeowner installing or maintaining buildings, electrical wiring, or plumbing on the homeowner's own property inside Kershaw town limits.

    • Work must be done by the homeowner and used exclusively by the homeowner or family.
    • The privilege does not exempt the homeowner from a permit or inspection.
    “Nothing in this chapter shall prevent any homeowner from installing or maintaining buildings, electrical wiring or plumbing within his or her own property boundaries; provided, such work is done by himself or herself and is used exclusively by him, her or his or her family.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile-home location or occupancy inside Kershaw town corporate limits.

    • Water and sewerage facilities are prerequisites unless Town Council authorizes otherwise.
    • Connection to existing sewer requires Town approval.
    “Water and sewerage facilities shall be a prerequisite to either locating or occupying a mobile home within the corporate limits, unless otherwise authorized by the Council.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Septic tanks inside Kershaw town limits where sewerage facilities are unavailable.

    • Written Town Council approval is required.
    • Construction and maintenance must comply with state Board of Health laws, rules, and regulations.
    “With the written approval of the Council, where sewerage facilities are not available, septic tanks may be permitted provided the same are constructed and maintained as required by the laws, rules and regulations of the state’s Board of Health.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Septic tanks inside Kershaw town limits where sewerage facilities are unavailable.

    • Written Council approval is required.
    • State Board of Health construction and maintenance rules apply.
    “With the written approval of the Council, where sewerage facilities are not available, septic tanks may be permitted provided the same are constructed and maintained as required by the laws, rules and regulations of the state’s Board of Health.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Residences and buildings inside Kershaw town limits served by a Town water or sanitary sewer line within 250 feet.

    • Connection is required not less than 60 days after line installation.
    • Preexisting DHEC-compliant septic tanks are exempt until problems develop and Town Council deems sewer connection necessary for public health.
    • After official notification, each day of nonconnection is a separate misdemeanor offense.

    line distance: <= 250 feet (Town water or sanitary sewer line) · connection deadline after installation: >= 60 days (Preexisting qualifying septic-system exception applies)

    “Not less than 60 days after the installation of a town water or sanitary sewer line within 250 feet of any residence or building, all said residences and buildings requiring the same shall be connected thereto for water and disposal of all sewerage and similar waste originating on said premises; provided, however, that, septic tanks constructed prior to the installation of the sewerage system and meeting the requirements of the DHEC are exempt from the requirements of this section until such time as septic tank problems develop and connection to the sanitary sewer collector line is deemed necessary, the public health requiring it, by the Town Council.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Kershaw

Town of Kershaw does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    Work performed by a homeowner on the homeowner's own property inside Kershaw town limits.

    • The homeowner work must be done by the homeowner and used exclusively by the homeowner or family; the provision expressly preserves the permit requirement.
    “Such privilege does not convey the right to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, neither is it to be construed as exempting any such property owner from obtaining a permit and having the work inspected.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building standards and safety enforcement inside Kershaw town limits.

    • The Town code states that Lancaster County assumed responsibility for regulation and enforcement; the retrieved provision does not identify a particular edition of the technical codes.
    “Lancaster County has assumed the responsibility for regulation and enforcement of building and safety codes regarding building standards and safety for the town.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work performed by a homeowner on the homeowner's own property inside Kershaw town limits.

    • The homeowner exception does not exempt the owner from having the work inspected.
    “Such privilege does not convey the right to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, neither is it to be construed as exempting any such property owner from obtaining a permit and having the work inspected.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Homeowner work inside Kershaw town limits.

    • The Town code preserves permit and inspection requirements for homeowner work; Lancaster County is identified as enforcement authority.
    “Lancaster County has assumed the responsibility for regulation and enforcement of building and safety codes regarding building standards and safety for the town.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — New residential construction inside Kershaw town limits.
  • Local zoning — Land inside Kershaw town limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Kershaw town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Kershaw town limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Lots inside Kershaw town limits.
15 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Kershaw publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lancaster County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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