Frequent Questions

During annexation of Miller Pond, many property owners said they were unaware of a Water and/or Sewer Agreement on the property or that they did not understand it when they signed it.

When an owner signs a Water and/or Sewer Agreement, he/she agrees to sign any and every successive Water and/or Sewer Service Agreement and Annexation Petition. The City Attorney requires the City to obtain new agreements when substantial changes are made to the agreement.  The City may require any property owner with an agreement dated before 7/17/09 to sign a new Water and/or Sewer Service Agreement. 

It depends.  If your property is contiguous to the City, it could be annexed immediately or relatively quickly. 

If your property is non-contiguous, it depends on how close the property is to the City limits and the growth pressures in that area.

An Annexation Petition is the official annexation document.  Once the signed Annexation Petition is received, the City will begin the annexation process.  It takes about 60 days from when the signed Annexation Petition is received for the property to be annexed.  The property is annexed when City Council approves the second reading.

Building permits are required for any owner, contractor, or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.

Please view our handout on Work Exempt from Building Permits. 

The following printable brochures provide more information:
Do I Need a Building Permit? - Residential
Do I Need a Building Permit? - Commercial

The following items require a permit:

• New houses or buildings 
• Room Additions or expansions 
• Structural repairs, remodeling and alterations 
• Accessory structures such as sheds, gazebos, decks, patio slabs, etc. 
• Carports and detached garages 
• Replacement of heating and air conditioning equipment 
• Re-piping of water lines, replacement of sewer lines and replacement of water heaters 
• Modifications to electrical service and wiring 
• Installing gas lines 
• Re-roofing, new siding, and replacement windows

Yes, there are some types of work you are allowed to perform on your own home. A homeowner is basically allowed to perform any type of remodel or repair that does not include electrical, mechanical (heating and air) or gas. Electrical, mechanical and gas work is required to be done by a South Carolina state licensed contractor. For large additions and construction of new homes, a homeowner must complete an Owner/Builder affidavit swearing that they plan to live in their home for two years and are completing the work for themselves or a family member. This affidavit must be recorded at the Clerk of Courts office before a permit can be issued. You should obtain a permit for any work that requires a permit before starting the work. All permits require inspections.

Caution: If a contractor asks you as the homeowner to obtain the permit, we advise that you do not. Much of the time in that situation the contractor may not be properly insured or licensed and does not want to be responsible for his work. When you obtain the permit you are assuming the responsibility for the work being done. If you have any doubt about a contractors license, please call 803-329-5590.

Helpful Brochures
Hire a Licensed Contractor 
Consumer Guide to Home Improvement Contracts

All contractors working inside City limits are required to have a City of Rock Hill Business License and depending on the type of work to be done, a State of South Carolina Contractors License. View Contractor Licensing Requirements for detailed licensing information. Please contact the Permit Application Center at 803-329-5590 with any questions.

Hire a Licensed Contractor

For general information contact the Planning and Development Department at 803-329-5590.  Below is a list of contacts by topic.

For a list of all Planning employees, visit our Staff Directory.

Yard Sale permits are issued through the Customer Service Department. You can fill out the Yard Sale Permit Application online. You can also contact Customer Service at 803-325-2500.

You can view the regulations for yard sales/garage sales online in the City's municipal code under Chapter 11, Article III, https://library.municode.com/HTML/10044/level3/MUCO_CH11BU_ARTIIIGASA.html#TOPTITLE.

A Special Events Permit is needed for events taking place in publicly owned areas.  These permits are issued by Hometown Security.

Certain events or temporary uses on private property require a Temporary Use Permit.  This may include events like festivals, carnivals, sales of fireworks and athletic events.  These permits are issued by the Planning and Development Department.

The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document adopted by City Council that describes the City’s vision of future development within the corporate limits and Urban Service Area. It details the city’s existing inventory, needs and goals, and implementation strategies.

The individual elements of the Comprehensive Plan must be reviewed every 5 years to insure that the entire plan is current. Any recommended changes must be adopted. The Plan must be updated every 10 years with adopted revisions. The next update of the Comprehensive Plan will take place by 2020.

The unincorporated Urban Services Area is generally located just outside the existing City limits and represents the area Rock Hill could potentially annex and/or provide urban services to over the next twenty years.