The short answer
If your home is inside a city's limits, start with that city's building office. If it's outside city limits, start with the county's. Some towns run their own office or work with the county, so the office itself is the final word. We don't match addresses to offices automatically.
1. Find your permit office in three steps
- Check whether you're inside city limits. A ZIP code isn't enough: one ZIP can cover several towns and even parts of more than one county. Your property record or tax bill usually shows the jurisdiction; if you're unsure, ask the county office.
- Open that office's official page from the table below and look for building or plumbing permits. Several offices take applications through an online portal.
- Confirm with the office that your job needs a permit and who should apply for it. If your address belongs to another office, they can tell you which one.
2. Official permit offices
What each office's own page says, as checked on October 22, 2026. We link to the official pages instead of listing phone numbers.
| Office | What its official page says | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | "Mechanical permits are required for new equipment, change-outs, running a gas line, etc." (for properties the county permits) | Permits answer book |
| City of Greenville | Runs a Building & Permit Center with building permit application e-forms | Permit applications |
| Spartanburg County | Permits through its Citizen Self Service online portal | Building Codes |
| City of Spartanburg | Its plumbing permit application lists electric and gas water heater change-outs | Residential building |
| Anderson County | Its online portal handles building permits, "including Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits" | Building & Codes |
| City of Anderson | "Permits are required for all new construction, repairs, renovations, etc." within the city | Building and Codes |
| Pickens County | Its residential permitting package says plumbing changes "of any kind" need a permit; its portal stops addresses outside its jurisdiction | Building Codes |
For Spartanburg County and Anderson County, we didn't find a rule written specifically for water heater replacement. That doesn't mean a permit isn't needed. Ask the office.
3. Towns with their own permit office
Each of these towns' official pages shows a town permit office or application path for work inside its city limits, as checked on October 22, 2026:
| Town | What its official page says | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mauldin | A permit is required "before adding or replacing any water heater, space heater, or air conditioning equipment," and before changing any plumbing or fuel gas system | Permits |
| Simpsonville | Issues its own building permits; its permit form says contractors need a current Simpsonville business license and a state license | Permit form (PDF) |
| Travelers Rest | Its Building Department takes permit applications and inspection requests through an online system | Building Department |
| Easley | "Electrical, plumbing, or mechanical changes of any kind" need a permit. Homeowners may apply for their primary residence (not a rental) after filing an Owner/Builder Disclosure form with Pickens County | Building Department |
| Greer | Its residential permit types include "Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing," with a separate homeowner-contractor option | Permit types |
| Pickens (city) | Takes "Construction Permits (building & trade)" applications through its online portal | Online permits |
| Fountain Inn | Has a Planning and Development department with its own permitting page | Permitting |
| Clemson | "Permits are also required for plumbing, electrical, and mechanical (HVAC) work done to new structures and alterations of existing structures" | Building and Fire Safety |
For Greer, Pickens and Fountain Inn we found the application path but no rule written specifically for water heater replacement. That doesn't mean a permit isn't needed; ask the office. Not confirmed yet: Liberty, Williamston and Belton. If you live in one of them, start with the town's official website, or ask your county office which office covers your address.
4. The permit fee isn't the plumber's price
A permit fee is set by the city or county. It's separate from what a plumber charges for the work. When you compare written estimates, check whether the permit is included and who will apply for it.
5. What to ask your plumber
- Does this job need a permit at my address, and which office issues it?
- Will you apply for the permit, or should I?
- Is the permit included in your written estimate?
- Will the work be inspected, and when?
Also check the plumber's license: see how to check a plumber's license in SC.
Sources
- Greenville County, Permits answer book (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Greenville, Building Permit Applications E-Forms (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- Spartanburg County, Building Codes (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Spartanburg, Residential Building and plumbing permit application (last successful check October 19–22, 2026)
- Anderson County, Building & Codes (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Anderson, Building and Codes (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- Pickens County, Building Codes and Residential Permitting Package (last successful check October 19–22, 2026)
- City of Mauldin, Permits & Fee Schedules (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Simpsonville, Building Permits Acknowledgement (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Travelers Rest, Building Department (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Easley, Building Department (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Greer, Permit Types (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Pickens, Apply for permits online (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Fountain Inn, Permitting and Planning and Development (last successful check October 22, 2026)
- City of Clemson, Building and Fire Safety (last successful check October 22, 2026)