Probably, but confirm with the County. Lexington County's building permit FAQ requires a permit "any time you construct, enlarge, renovate, move, or change the occupancy of a building." It lists "ordinary repairs and maintenance" as exempt. It doesn't say where a re-roof falls. Call Building Inspections at (803) 785-8130 and describe the job. If a permit is needed, your roofer applies through the County's online portal.
This guide covers unincorporated Lexington County: the portal, documents, the fee schedule effective July 1, 2026, inspections, owner permits, flood zones and contacts. For other Midlands offices, start at our Midlands roof permits hub.
Is your home in unincorporated Lexington County?
The County office covers homes outside town limits. The Town of Lexington, West Columbia, Cayce, Irmo and Chapin all have their own building permit process. A "Lexington" mailing address does not mean you are inside the Town of Lexington. If you aren't sure, call (803) 785-8130 and ask.
- Inside the Town of Lexington: Town of Lexington roof permits.
- Inside West Columbia or Cayce: West Columbia and Cayce roof permits.
- Inside Irmo or Chapin: Irmo and Chapin roof permits.
What the County exempts from permits
The FAQ lists work that does not need a building permit. Roofing is not on the list, but the first item matters for small roof jobs:
- Ordinary repairs and maintenance.
- Fences, and retaining walls unless supporting a surcharge.
- Sidewalks, driveways and patios.
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and similar cosmetic work.
- One-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet.
- Window awnings supported by an exterior wall.
Replacing a few shingles after wind is the kind of job that usually reads as ordinary repair. A full tear-off, new decking or a change in roof covering is a bigger question. Our post on whether roof repairs need a permit covers the line in more detail.
How to apply: the BluePrince portal
The County's building permits page sends applicants to its Online Building Permits Portal. You use it to apply, request inspections and upload documents. The page also links training documentation for the portal.
The County's residential submittal requirements say all required documents must be submitted through BluePrince, and incomplete submittals may delay review. The points that apply to a roofing job are these:
- Register for a BluePrince account first. Portal technical support is 1-888-592-5336 or bpsupport@harriscomputer.com.
- Contractors must provide their South Carolina LLR license documentation, either the wallet card or the wall certificate.
- If the property is in a floodplain, an elevation survey or other floodplain documents may be required.
- If the owner is the applicant, a recorded Disclosure Statement and Public Record Notice must be on file before the permit is issued.
- Applicants are responsible for monitoring the portal for review comments, document requests, approvals and permit status.
The same document says to allow 15 business days for building plan review. A permit is not issued until every Community Development division has signed off. Ask whether your re-roof needs plan review at all; that requirement is written for jobs with plans.
Someone else picking up the permit
A licensed contractor who wants an agent to pull permits in their name completes the County's notarized authorization form. It needs a color copy of the license holder's photo ID. It can be for one job address or ongoing until revoked in writing.
Lexington County permit fees, effective July 1, 2026
The County's Development Review and Permit Fees schedule took effect July 1, 2026. It has no separate roofing or alteration fee. Building permits for residential and commercial work use one valuation table, quoted here exactly:
Residential and Commercial Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective 7/1/2026
| Value of work | Fee as published |
|---|---|
| Minimum Permit Fee | $50 |
| $0-$4,000 | $50 |
| $4,001-$100,000 | $50 + $5 per each $1,000 |
| $100,001-$250,000 | $460 + $5 per each $1,000 |
| $250,001-$500,000 | $1,216 + $3 per each $1,000 |
| $500,001 and greater | $1,745 + $2 per each $1,000 |
Source: Lexington County, Development Review and Permit Fees, effective 7/1/2026, page 2. Staff calculate the fee when the permit is issued.
The schedule adds: "Building permit fees are based on building valuation data as published by the International Codes Council and will be calculated by staff at the time of permit issuance." So the County, not your roofer, sets the final number. Other lines from the same schedule that can come up on a roof job:
Other building code fees that can apply (effective 7/1/2026)
| Item | Fee as published |
|---|---|
| Re-inspections: First Inspection | no fee |
| Each additional re-inspection | $60.00 |
| Inspection not ready/work is incomplete | $60.00 |
| Stop Work Order Release | $269.00 |
| Compliance Inspection | $45.00 |
| Permit Refund Fee: Residential | $50(House) |
| Permit Refund Fee: Permits Under $100 | $7.00 |
Source: Lexington County fee schedule, effective 7/1/2026, page 1.
The FAQ also says permit fees are the same for contractors and homeowners.
Inspections
Inspections are requested through the same BluePrince portal. The County does not publish a roofing-specific inspection list, so ask what your permit requires when it is issued. Note the fee line above: an inspection called in before the work is ready costs $60.00. For what inspectors publish across the Midlands, see our post on what a roof permit inspector checks.
Pulling the permit as the homeowner
Per the FAQ, a homeowner can get a permit for their own residence if it isn't offered for sale or rent for two years. The County is blunt about the risk: "If you obtain the permit in your name, you, not the contractor, will be held responsible for any deficient work the contractor performs even if you sell the property." It advises that if you hire a contractor, you should require the contractor to obtain the permit.
The FAQ still cites an older $200 licensing threshold for hired workers. State law now sets the residential specialty contractor threshold at $500, under S.C. Code Section 40-59-20. Either way, a roofer doing your re-roof should be credentialed; check on the LLR lookup. Per the submittal requirements, the owner's Disclosure Statement and Public Record Notice must be recorded before an owner permit is issued.
Flood zones
Lexington County has taken part in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979. Its floodplain management page says it adopted rules stricter than FEMA's minimum. That page links the County's online FEMA flood map viewer. Questions go to the Floodplain Manager at (803) 785-8121. Ask whether your parcel needs floodplain documents with a roofing permit.
Business license
The County does not issue one. Its zoning FAQ says "Lexington County does not require or issue business licenses," and that some municipalities do. If your home is inside a town, your roofer may need that town's license; the town guides linked above cover each one.
Office address, phone and hours
Lexington County Building Inspections contacts (checked October 2026)
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Fourth floor, Lexington County Administration Building, 212 South Lake Dr., Lexington, SC 29072 | Permit FAQ |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Permit FAQ |
| Phone and fax | (803) 785-8130; fax (803) 785-5186 | Permit FAQ |
| buildinginspections@lexingtoncounty.sc.gov | Submittal requirements | |
| Portal | BluePrince Online Building Permits Portal | Building permits |
| Floodplain Manager | (803) 785-8121 | Floodplain management |
Cola City Roofing works across Lexington County, from Gilbert to the lake. If you want a quote or a second opinion on your roof, you can contact us here.