Greenville building permits come from the Permit Center at 204 Halton Road (864-467-4505). Zoning questions go to Planning at 864-467-4476.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Greenville’s Building Permit Center, Planning and Development and boards and commissions pages.

Two city offices handle building in Greenville. The Building Codes and Permit Center issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and schedules inspections. Planning and Development handles zoning, rezoning, signs, short-term rentals, historic districts and the boards that hear those cases. Both cover only property inside the city limits.

Who to call

  • Building Codes and Permit Center: 864-467-4505, 204 Halton Road (Public Safety Campus and Municipal Complex), walk-up 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Planning and Development (zoning): 864-467-4476, 15 S. Main St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, planning@greenvillesc.gov
  • Engineering (grading, stormwater, impervious area): 864-467-4400
  • Outside the city: Greenville County Building Safety, 864-467-7060, 301 University Ridge, Suite S-3100

Is your property in the city?

Many addresses with a Greenville mailing address are not in the City of Greenville. Wade Hampton, Gantt, Parker, Taylors and Berea are unincorporated, and Mauldin is its own city. Look up the address on the city’s address locator map, which also shows zoning, special districts and your council district. If it is outside the city, permits come from Greenville County, and zoning from the county’s zoning map.

Do you need a permit?

The city’s permit rule, drawn from the building code, says anyone who will build, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building, or install or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, must first apply to the building official and get a permit. The city asks you to call the Permit Center if you are not sure.

The city enforces the 2021 building codes adopted by South Carolina, in effect since Jan. 1, 2023. In September 2026 the state’s new accessibility standard, ICC/ANSI A117.1-2026, took effect for every city and county in South Carolina, the Permit Center page says.

How to apply

The city prefers online applications and plans, under its electronic submittal guidelines.

  1. Site plan first. Under Section 19-2.3.9 of the development code, any development or redevelopment needs a Site Plan Permit before any other building permit. A single-family site plan goes in with the building permit.
  2. Adding pavement? Since July 15, 2023, projects that add 100 square feet or more of impervious area face extra review. Call Engineering at 864-467-4400.
  3. Work with no plan review (many repairs and replacements): apply with the online building, electrical or mechanical permit forms.
  4. Track it. The Online Permit Service Center shows any permit’s status; permit holders schedule inspections and pay there.

Fees are set in the city’s fee schedule for building permits, plan review and electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits.

Zoning permits

Planning and Development issues the zoning permits that sit beside a building permit:

  • Accessory use permit, including home occupations
  • Certificate of appropriateness from the Design Review Board for signs and exterior changes downtown, or from the Historic Review Board in a historic district
  • Permanent sign permit
  • Multifamily residential development application outside downtown
  • Appeal of an administrator’s decision
  • Local landmark designation and the historic properties special tax assessment

The rules are in the Greenville Development Code.

Short-term rentals

Renting a home on Airbnb or Vrbo takes a city short-term rental permit and a current business license, according to the city’s short-term rentals page. In buildings with four or more units, no more than 25% may be short-term rentals, and one parking space per unit is required. Rentals of 1 to 89 days owe a 3% local accommodations tax, due on the 20th of each month.

The boards and when they meet

All meetings are open to the public. The city posts each board’s 2026 schedule on its calendars page.

Board What it decides Meets
Planning Commission Recommends annexation and rezoning to City Council; approves subdivisions 4 p.m., first Thursday
Board of Zoning Appeals Variances, special exceptions, appeals of the zoning administrator 4 p.m., second Thursday
Design Review Board Certificates of appropriateness in the downtown design district 4 p.m., third Thursday
Historic Review Board Changes in preservation districts; landmark and tax-assessment cases Third Thursday

The Historic Review Board and Design Review Board next meet Thursday, Oct. 15, at City Hall, 206 S. Main St., according to the city’s meeting calendar. Many projects must first go through a Project Preview Meeting with staff; the next is Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 15 S. Main St.

What this means for you

  • Check the address locator before you call anyone: city or county decides who issues the permit.
  • Apply online and track the permit in the Online Permit Service Center.
  • Neighbors can speak at Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals hearings.

More guides: Greenville County property taxes, who to call at Greenville City Hall and moving to Greenville.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Greenville?

From the City of Greenville Building Codes and Permit Center at the Public Safety Campus and Municipal Complex, 204 Halton Road. Call 864-467-4505; walk-up hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The city prefers applications online.

How do I find my zoning in Greenville?

Search your address on the city’s address locator map, which shows zoning and special districts. Properties outside the city limits do not appear. Questions go to Planning and Development at 864-467-4476.

When does the Greenville Planning Commission meet?

At 4 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. The Board of Zoning Appeals meets at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday, and the Design Review Board at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday.

Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Greenville?

Yes. Short-term rental operators fill out the city’s online permit and need a current business license. Rentals of 1 to 89 days owe a 3% local accommodations tax, due on the 20th of each month.