In Kershaw County, a roof replacement goes through one of three offices, depending on where the house sits. Inside Camden city limits, the City of Camden issues it. Inside Elgin town limits, the Town of Elgin handles it. Homes outside those two towns, including most Lugoff addresses, go to Kershaw County Planning and Zoning. Its specialty permit application lists roofing by name.
This page walks through each office in turn. It covers addresses, applications, current fees and inspections, plus what changes in Camden's historic district. Every figure links to the office's own document, checked in October 2026.
Lugoff and Elgin addresses
A Lugoff or Elgin mailing address doesn't settle which office you deal with. The permit follows town limits, not the post office. If you aren't sure, look up the parcel on the county's tax records or call Kershaw County Planning and Zoning at 803-425-7233 before anyone applies.
Which office issues the permit for my address?
Roof permit offices in Kershaw County (checked October 2026)
| Area | Who issues roof permits | Does it name roofing? | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw County outside town limits (most Lugoff addresses) | Kershaw County Planning and Zoning, 515 Walnut Street, Room 160, Camden | Yes. Its Specialty Permit Application has a "Roof" box alongside electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas. | 803-425-7233; online portal Evolve |
| City of Camden | City of Camden (City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street) | The City requires a building permit for any repair of a house within city limits; it doesn't single out roofs. Source | Permit Tech, 803-432-2421 x1165, PermitTech@camdensc.org; portal Evolve |
| Town of Elgin | Town of Elgin, Town Hall, 2469 Main Street | The Town requires a building permit for "all new construction, demolitions, and other contractual work." Roofing isn't named. Source | Town Clerk, 803-438-2362 |
Kershaw County: re-roofs outside the towns
The county's Building Permits and Inspections page sends applicants to its Evolve portal to apply for permits and schedule inspections. For a roof, the form to use is the Specialty Permit Application, which covers electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing and gas work in one document.
What the county application asks for
The specialty application is short. Your roofer fills in most of it, but it helps to know what's on it:
- The property owner's name and phone, the property address and the TMS (tax map) number.
- The contractor's company name, the contractor's license number, email and mailing address.
- The class of work ("Roof"), the use of the building (single family, manufactured home, accessory or commercial) and the estimated value of the job.
- The inspections requested, such as rough-in and final.
- A yes or no answer on whether a recorded covenant or restriction conflicts with the work. That question comes from S.C. Code Section 6-29-1145; if the answer is yes, a copy goes in with the application.
The same form carries two conditions worth noting. The permit becomes void if work doesn't start within six months, or if work stops for six months after it starts. And the property should be clearly marked with its 9-1-1 address so the inspector can find it.
The county's list isn't complete
The county says its printable forms are "not a comprehensive list" of what a given permit may need. Staff can answer questions. If your job includes decking or structural repairs, ask whether anything beyond the specialty form is needed. County notice
County fees for a roofing permit
Roofing falls in the county's "Residential Specialty and Commercial" fee table, which is based on the cost of the work. These are the lower tiers from the Schedule of Fees effective July 1, 2025:
Kershaw County residential specialty permit fees, including roofing (effective July 1, 2025)
| Cost of the work | Permit fee | Inspections included |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $10,000 | $50 | One |
| $10,001 to $50,000 | $50 for the first $10,000, plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction | Two |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $290 for the first $50,000, plus $6 for each additional $1,000 or fraction | Four |
The same schedule sets the extras. Re-inspections cost $50 for the first, $100 for the second, $200 for the third and $400 for the fourth and later ones. Failing to get a required permit costs double the permit fee. Lifting a residential stop-work order is $250, a permit transfer is $50 and a refund carries a $25 charge. Fee schedule
County contacts
Planning and Zoning is at 515 Walnut Street, Room 160, Camden, SC 29020, phone 803-425-7233. The county's development contacts sheet (updated October 5, 2026) lists building inspections under the assistant director, a certified building official, at extension 5344. The county doesn't post office hours on its permit page, so call ahead before visiting.
City of Camden: permits inside city limits
Camden's Building Permits and Inspections page requires a building permit for any repair or enlargement of a house within city limits. New construction, demolition and moving need one too. Permits are usually issued to a contractor licensed by the state. An owner can get one by signing an affidavit and meeting the other conditions of state law.
How to apply in Camden
Building and zoning permits are filed through the City's Evolve portal. The City's portal handout lays out the steps:
- Create an account. Login uses a one-time PIN sent by email or text.
- Choose Apply for Permit and pick the permit type from the menus.
- Review the "Before You Begin" checklist for that permit.
- Enter the address, or a location description and tax map parcel number if the address isn't found.
- Enter the permit details and list any subcontractors or contacts.
- Upload documents such as plans, site plans or other forms.
The same portal handles fee payment, inspection requests and cancellations, and permit status. Anyone can search permits there without logging in, which is a simple way to confirm your roofer actually pulled one.
Camden fees for repair and renovation work
Camden prices renovation permits on the cost of the work. These tiers come from the City's FY 2026-27 Billing Rate and Fee Schedule, revised July 1, 2026:
City of Camden renovation permit fees (FY 2026-27)
| Cost of the work | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $0 to $50,000 | $50 for the first $1,000, plus $8 for each additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $415 for the first $50,000, plus $7 for each additional $1,000 |
The schedule says the plan checking fee, half the permit fee, isn't required for single-family residential work. Residential re-inspections are $50 each. Fees are doubled if work starts without a permit, and a Certificate of Appropriateness from the historic commission is a separate $25 zoning fee. Fee schedule
Business license and inspections in Camden
Every contractor and subcontractor working in Camden needs a City Business License, on top of state registration. Camden business licenses run from May 1 to April 30 and must be renewed each year. Ask your roofer whether theirs is current before the permit is filed.
The prime contractor who pulls the permit is responsible for scheduling inspections, with at least 24 hours' notice. The City's published list ends with a final inspection. Questions go to the City Clerk and Permit Tech at 803-432-2421 extension 1165 or PermitTech@camdensc.org. Camden permits page
Floodplain houses have one more step. Work there must comply with Camden's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, Chapter 152, before a permit is issued. Source
Camden's historic district: what changes for a roof
Camden has a Historic Overlay District, and its permit page says properties there must meet Chapter 158, Historic Landmarks, before a building permit is issued. The Camden Historic Landmarks Commission reviews changes to locally designated historic properties against the Camden Design Guidelines.
Repair in kind versus a change
The ordinance draws a useful line. Section 158.086 allows ordinary maintenance or repair of a historic property's exterior. The condition is that the work keeps the same material, design and outer appearance. Section 158.095 lets the Building Official issue a certificate for maintenance and repair without sending it to the Commission.
In practice, replacing worn shingles with a closely matching shingle sits nearer the repair end. Switching materials, say from shingles to standing-seam metal, or changing the roof's shape is the kind of alteration that needs a Certificate of Appropriateness first. Ask the City which side of the line your job falls on before you sign a contract.
What the design guidelines say about roofs
The Camden Design Guidelines (2014) have a section on roofs. The main points for a re-roof:
- Keep the original roof form and the original eave depth. Cutting back rafters or soffits is called inappropriate (guidelines 2.43 and 2.44).
- Don't remove historic roofing that is in good condition. Tile and slate should be replaced with a matching material (2.45).
- Low-profile composition shingles work best on many sloped roofs. Finishes should be matte and non-reflective, matching the original color where feasible (2.46).
- Metal roofs should be earth tones with a matte finish and low-profile seams, roughly a 1-inch rolled seam. The guidelines say metal works best on small, simple houses (2.47).
- Chimneys, finials, gutters and downspouts are treated as historic roof features to preserve or repair (2.52 and 2.53).
How the certificate process works
The Certificate of Appropriateness application lists review types including alterations and repair. For a material change, the checklist asks for a written description of the work and the area involved. Add color photos and a sample or photo of the new material. Materials are due by 4 p.m. on the posted deadline date.
Under Section 158.096, a complete application must be filed at least seven calendar days before a regular meeting, or it waits for the next one. Neighbors next door get notice seven days before the meeting. The Commission must act within 45 days of a complete application. The 2026 calendar on the Commission page shows remaining meetings on November 10 and December 8.
Town of Elgin
Elgin runs its own permit intake. The Town's business page says a building permit is required for all new construction, demolitions and other contractual work. Permit questions go to the Town Clerk at 803-438-2362. Town Hall is at 2469 Main Street.
The Town's building permit application is a one-page form. Its affidavit says work can't start before the permit card is posted. Contractors and subcontractors must get a business license if one is required. The permit is void if the job doesn't start within six months. Elgin doesn't publish a fee schedule or say who performs its inspections, so call the Town Clerk to confirm both.
Elgin also requires an annual business license for anyone doing business inside town limits, including contractors.
Can I pull the permit myself?
You can, under the owner-builder exemption in S.C. Code Section 40-59-260, but read the conditions first. Kershaw County hands owner-builders an Owner Disclosure Statement that spells them out:
- You must supervise the work yourself, on a one- or two-family home for your own use.
- Selling or renting the house within two years of finishing is presumed to mean you built it for sale or rent. That breaks the exemption.
- You may not hire an unlicensed person as your builder or specialty contractor. Checking licenses becomes your job.
- The statement is notarized, and when the work is done you must file a Public Record Notice with the Kershaw County Register of Deeds.
That last step puts the owner-built work on the property's public record. If a roofer asks you to pull the permit in your name, treat it as a warning sign and check their registration.
What a roofer needs to work here
Under state law, a residential specialty contractor, which includes roofers, must register with the Residential Builders Commission for jobs over five hundred dollars. The 2022 amendment raised that line from two hundred dollars. S.C. Code Section 40-59-20
On top of that, Camden and Elgin each require a town business license. The roof itself is inspected under the 2021 International Residential Code with South Carolina modifications, in force since January 1, 2023. Our Midlands roof permit guide covers the code and the inspection basics in more detail.
If you'd like a second opinion on a roof in Camden, Lugoff or Elgin, Cola City Roofing can take a look. You can reach us here.