Charleston permit fees jump 50 percent on Jan. 1

Charleston City Council gave unanimous first-reading approval on Nov. 10 to a new permit fee schedule that raises building permit fees for new homes by 50 percent, along with fees for commercial buildings, demolitions, swimming pools and renovations inside city limits. The schedule takes effect Jan. 1 and is the first increase in five years.

Why this matters here

If you build, remodel, or install pools and decks inside the city, your permit line item changes on Jan. 1. Quoting a January job off December's numbers is how a small contractor eats the difference.