Greer permits are filed on eTRAKiT and run from City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St. Permits: 864-848-2175. Planning Commission meets Monday, Oct. 19.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Greer’s Planning and Development, Permits, Permit Types and Boards and Commissions pages.
The City of Greer Planning and Development Department issues building permits, reviews plans, inspects work, enforces property codes and handles zoning for land inside the city limits. The office is at City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St., open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; inspectors work 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Applications, payments and inspection requests go through the city’s eTRAKiT portal.
Who to call
- Permits and general questions: 864-848-2175, development@cityofgreersc.gov
- Inspection requests: 864-968-7029, or online through eTRAKiT
- Planning and zoning (rezonings, Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Architectural Review): 864-801-2009, pz@cityofgreersc.gov
- Code enforcement (overgrown lots, debris, unsafe buildings): 864-848-2175, compliance@cityofgreersc.gov
- Chief building official: Sam Dobson, wdobson@cityofgreersc.gov
Work that needs a permit
The city says permits are required before any work begins and that getting one is the contractor’s responsibility. According to the Permits page, that covers any new structure, addition, remodel, repair, interior demolition, demolition or moving a structure, including:
- Replacement water heaters, replacement roofs and new heating and air systems
- Siding and replacement windows
- Decks, garages, carports and storage sheds
- Fences, solar panels and swimming pools
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work
Painting, gutters and some small storage buildings are exceptions, though zoning approval may still apply. Building without a permit can bring daily fines, penalties or an order to tear the work out, the city says. Before it issues a permit, the department may look at floodplain location, road frontage and other structures on the lot.
How to apply
Contractors new to Greer contact the permits office to have an eTRAKiT account set up; the city verifies the state license, and the business license office issues a city business license. For a new house, townhome or duplex, a licensed residential builder applies with a Manual J (HVAC calculations), a site plan showing stormwater flow and setbacks, and a full set of floor plans. Remodels and additions need a site plan, a detailed drawing and the value of the work, according to the Permit Types page. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits are pulled by the licensed trade contractor.
Payments can be made online, in the office or with the city’s credit card authorization form (PDF). Fees are in the city’s comprehensive fee schedule (PDF). Commercial plan review also runs through eTRAKiT: architects upload one full set of stamped drawings as a single document.
Inspections can be requested on eTRAKiT or at 864-968-7029. Requests made by 11:59 p.m. Monday through Friday are scheduled for the next business day. A new home needs a duct blower test and a compaction report before the final inspection; the certificate of occupancy is emailed once the final passes.
Doing the work yourself
Homeowners can act as their own contractor on their primary residence. File the Homeowners Disclosure Statement (PDF), have it notarized and recorded with Greenville or Spartanburg County, depending on which side of the county line you live on, and return the recorded copy to the city with a utility bill in your name and your driver’s license. The disclosure stays on the property for two years, and you cannot sell or lease the home in that time under state law. Homeowners cannot pull a mechanical permit, and anyone you hire must hold the licenses state law requires.
Zoning, rezonings and public hearings
Greer’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), adopted Nov. 28, 2023, sets zoning districts, review procedures and design standards and came with a new zoning map. Zoning for any parcel is on the city’s GIS map system. City Council adopted impact fees, a one-time charge on new homes and new or expanded commercial buildings, on Oct. 8, 2024. Projects that need site plan or stormwater review, and rezonings to Design Review District or Planned Development zoning, first go to the Planning Advisory Committee, which meets online at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays.
| Board | What it hears | Next meetings (6:30 p.m. unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Commission | Rezonings (recommends to City Council), final subdivision approval, UDO and comprehensive plan changes | Monday, Oct. 19; Monday, Nov. 16; Monday, Dec. 21 |
| Board of Zoning Appeals | Variances, special exceptions and appeals of staff decisions | Monday, Nov. 2, 5:30 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. |
| Board of Architectural Review | Changes in the Downtown Historic District and Downtown Overlay District | Work sessions 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Tuesday, Dec. 8 |
| City Council | Final vote on rezonings and annexations | Tuesday, Oct. 27; Tuesday, Nov. 10; Tuesday, Nov. 24 |
All meet at City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St. Dates are from the city’s CivicClerk meeting portal, where agendas are posted before each meeting. Applications to the Board of Zoning Appeals (form, PDF) and the Board of Architectural Review (form, PDF) are filed through eTRAKiT.
Code enforcement
The Community Compliance Division handles overgrown grass, debris and unsafe conditions under the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code. Report a problem at 864-848-2175 or with the city’s online concern form. The city’s published fines run $125 for a first offense, $225 for a second, $400 for a third, $600 for a fourth and $800 for a fifth and each one after that.
Outside the city limits
A Greer mailing address does not mean the city handles your permit. In unincorporated Greenville County, permits come from the county’s Building Safety Department, which also uses eTrakit. In unincorporated Spartanburg County, contact Spartanburg County’s building codes office. Check the city limits on the GIS map before you apply.
What this means for you
- Roofs, windows, water heaters, fences and sheds all need a permit in Greer.
- Doing it yourself? Record the homeowner disclosure with your county first.
- Want a say on a rezoning near you? Read the Planning Commission agenda on CivicClerk before the Monday, Oct. 19, meeting.
Related guides: Greenville County property taxes, home prices in Greer and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a building permit in Greer?
Apply, upload plans, pay fees and schedule inspections on the City of Greer’s eTRAKiT portal. Questions go to the Planning and Development Department at 864-848-2175 or development@cityofgreersc.gov.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in Greer?
The city lists decks, fences, pools, solar panels, garages, carports and storage sheds among the work that needs a permit. Painting, gutters and some small storage buildings are exceptions, though zoning approval may still apply.
Can a homeowner pull their own permit in Greer?
Yes, for a primary residence, by filing a notarized Homeowners Disclosure Statement recorded with Greenville or Spartanburg County. You cannot sell or lease the home for two years, and homeowners cannot pull a mechanical permit.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Greer?
Request it on eTRAKiT or call 864-968-7029. Requests made by 11:59 p.m. Monday through Friday are scheduled for the next business day.
When does the Greer Planning Commission meet?
Its next meetings are at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 21 at City Hall, 301 E. Poinsett St., according to the city’s meeting portal.
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