South Carolina Contractor License Lookup

South Carolina licenses residential builders for home work over $5,000 and general and mechanical contractors for work over $10,000. Residential electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers and roofers need a state credential over $500. Search contractors on the official site of the SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR), and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR)

South Carolina rules checked against official sources on October 25, 2026.

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South Carolina: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs over $5,000. Credential: residential builder license.

    Building, repairing or improving a home (up to three floors, and no more than 16 units in an apartment building) needs a Residential Builders Commission license when the cost of the job is over $5,000. Source: S.C. Code 40-59-20(6); 40-59-30(A)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • A general contractor licensed by the Contractors' Licensing Board can also do residential building work.
    • Specialty trade work on a home over $500 needs a residential specialty license or registration (see the trade and roofing rules).

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR)

Search by name, license number, city, company name or license type.

What to check on the board's record

  • The name or business on the record matches the name on your contract or estimate.
  • The status is active, not expired, suspended or revoked.
  • The license type or class covers your kind of job.
  • The license number in the contractor's ads and contract is the same one.

This summarises state rules from official sources. Only the board's own record can confirm one contractor's license. Checked October 25, 2026.

How South Carolina licenses contractors

South Carolina licenses residential builders for home work over $5,000 and general and mechanical contractors for work over $10,000. Residential electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers and roofers need a state credential over $500. S.C. Code 40-11-30; 40-59-20(6), (7)

Doing residential building or residential specialty work without the required license or registration is a misdemeanor with a fine of $500 to $10,000, at least 30 days in jail, or both. The contractor also cannot file a mechanics' lien or sue on the contract. S.C. Code 40-59-30(A), (B)

Rules by type of work

Home improvement and new homes

  • residential builder license (residential): Building, repairing or improving a home (up to three floors, and no more than 16 units in an apartment building) needs a Residential Builders Commission license when the cost of the job is over $5,000. Issued by SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR). S.C. Code 40-59-20(6); 40-59-30(A)
    • A general contractor licensed by the Contractors' Licensing Board can also do residential building work.
    • Specialty trade work on a home over $500 needs a residential specialty license or registration (see the trade and roofing rules).
  • general contractor license (commercial): General contracting on commercial and other buildings needs a Contractors' Licensing Board license when the total cost of construction is over $10,000. Roofing is a general contractor subclassification. Issued by SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR). In effect since May 19, 2023. S.C. Code 40-11-30 (as amended by 2023 Act No. 69); 40-11-410

Electrical work, plumbing and HVAC

  • residential specialty contractor license (electrician, plumber, HVAC) (residential): Residential electricians, plumbers, and heating and air conditioning installers need a Residential Builders Commission specialty contractor license, issued after an exam, when the job is over $500. Issued by SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR). In effect since May 16, 2022. S.C. Code 40-59-20(7) (as amended by 2022 Act No. 186); 40-59-240
    • A residential builder licensed by examination may do this work without a separate specialty license.
    • Over $5,000 for an individual property owner, the specialty contractor must also carry a surety bond.
    • Cities and counties may also require their own business license.
  • mechanical contractor license (commercial): Mechanical contracting (plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical) on commercial and other buildings needs a Contractors' Licensing Board mechanical license when the total cost of construction is over $10,000. Issued by SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR). In effect since May 19, 2023. S.C. Code 40-11-20(16), (17); 40-11-30

Roofing

  • residential specialty contractor registration (roofer) (residential): Roofers working on homes register with the Residential Builders Commission as residential specialty contractors when the job is over $500. No exam is required for registration. Issued by SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR). In effect since May 16, 2022. S.C. Code 40-59-20(7); SC LLR Residential Specialty Contractor Registration page
    • Roofers is one of the trade classifications available for specialty contractor registration (Regulation 106-1).
    • A licensed residential builder can also do roofing work.
  • general contractor license (commercial): General contracting on commercial and other buildings needs a Contractors' Licensing Board license when the total cost of construction is over $10,000. Roofing is a general contractor subclassification. Issued by SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR). In effect since May 19, 2023. S.C. Code 40-11-30 (as amended by 2023 Act No. 69); 40-11-410

Where to look up contractors in South Carolina

On the record, check that the name matches your contract, the status is active (not expired, suspended or revoked), the license type covers your job, and the license number matches the one the contractor gave you.

What this tool does not do

  • It does not check any one contractor. Only the board's own record shows whether a license is active and what it covers.
  • It covers state rules. Cities and counties can add their own licenses and permits, and the tool cannot list every local rule.
  • It does not decide whether a contractor broke the law or what you can recover. For a dispute, contact the board or a lawyer.
  • It does not cover every specialty trade a state licenses (for example pest control, elevators or well drilling).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up a contractor license in South Carolina?

Use the official online license search from the SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR). Search by the contractor's name, business name or license number, and check that the status is active and the license type covers your job. Other state boards on this page: the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR).

Do you need a contractor license for a small job in South Carolina?

Building, repairing or improving a home (up to three floors, and no more than 16 units in an apartment building) needs a Residential Builders Commission license when the cost of the job is over $5,000. For jobs of $5,000 or less, this state rule generally does not apply, but the conditions and exceptions listed on this page can change that, and a city or county can require its own license.

Which trades need a state license in South Carolina?

Electrical: residential specialty contractor license (electrician, plumber, HVAC) from the SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR) (residential work, more than $500); mechanical contractor license from the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR) (commercial work, more than $10,000). Plumbing: residential specialty contractor license (electrician, plumber, HVAC) from the SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR) (residential work, more than $500); mechanical contractor license from the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR) (commercial work, more than $10,000). HVAC: residential specialty contractor license (electrician, plumber, HVAC) from the SC Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR) (residential work, more than $500); mechanical contractor license from the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (SC LLR) (commercial work, more than $10,000).

What happens if a South Carolina contractor works without a required license?

Doing residential building or residential specialty work without the required license or registration is a misdemeanor with a fine of $500 to $10,000, at least 30 days in jail, or both. The contractor also cannot file a mechanics' lien or sue on the contract.

Sources

Checked against official South Carolina sources on October 25, 2026.

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