South Carolina Residential Electrician, Plumber & HVAC License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

South Carolina's Residential Builders Commission licenses residential electricians, plumbers and heating and air conditioning installers and repairers by examination. Its FAQs say each of these licenses is renewable every two years, before June 30 of each odd-numbered year (2023, 2025, 2027 and so on), and that a license not renewed lapses on June 30. The renewal fee is $220, renewals received after June 30 owe a $50 late fee, and a license lapsed for less than three years can apply for reinstatement, for $480. After three years you apply again as a new applicant and retake the exam.

At a glance

Who needs it: Residential electrical, plumbing or HVAC work over $500 needs a license from the Commission. Commercial work over $10,000 may need a license from the Contractor's Licensing Board instead. A mechanical contractor licensed by the Contractor's Licensing Board, working in the classification of their own license, is exempt, and a residential builder licensed by examination in South Carolina may do residential specialty work without a separate specialty license
Expires: The Commission's FAQs: renewable every two years, before June 30 of each odd year (2023, 2025, 2027 and so on). A license not renewed lapses on June 30
Renewal notice: The Commission mails a courtesy renewal notice in mid to late April and sends a courtesy reminder eblast during renewal season. Renewing on time is your responsibility, and state law requires a current mailing address on file
Renew: Online through the Commission's renewal portal, with a checking account, Mastercard, Visa or American Express, your user ID and password, and a current email address on file. The portal can email your user ID or a password reset link to the address on file
One license at a time: Every license or registration is renewed separately by its credential number. The online renewal has a proxy payment link you can email to someone else to pay; you're responsible for making sure they pay on time
Renewal fee: $220
Late fee: $50, on every renewal received after June 30
Reinstatement: A license lapsed for less than three years can apply for reinstatement on the Commission's reinstatement application: $480 ($220 renewal fee + $260 reinstatement fee), by check or money order. Lapsed for more than three years, you apply as a new applicant and retake the exam
Surety bond: A $10,000 surety bond, issued in your name as principal (not a company's, unless it's a Certificate of Authorization bond), must be on file with the Commission before you perform or offer to perform a job whose labor and materials together exceed $5,000. Once an original bond on the current form is on file, the Commission can accept a Bond Continuation Certificate. The original bond or continuation certificate must be submitted to the Commission each time your bond is renewed
Continuing education: None: Title 40, Chapter 59 lets the Commission require CE by regulation, and its regulations (Chapter 106) set none
On the renewal form: State law requires renewal forms to list any outstanding judgments against you, or against any entity you were associated with, for the past five years
Changes: Tell the Commission in writing within 30 days of any change to the information it has on file, your mailing address included
Contact: South Carolina Residential Builders Commission, 110 Centerview Dr, Columbia, SC. 803-896-4696, Contact.RBC@llr.sc.gov

This guide covers the three residential specialty licenses the Commission issues by examination: electrician, plumber, and heating and air conditioning installer and repairer. Specialty contractor registrations (siding, masonry, drywall, carpentry, stucco, painting, solar panels and others) and the Residential Builder license have their own rules: see the Commission's site.

The Commission's FAQs say it licenses the individual, not the company, and that each person doing the work needs their own license.

How to renew

Watch for the Commission's courtesy renewal notice in mid to late April of an odd-numbered year, and make sure it has your current mailing and email addresses.
If you take on jobs over $5,000 in labor and materials, check that your $10,000 surety bond is current and on file.
Renew online before June 30, one license at a time by credential number, and list any outstanding judgments from the past five years. The fee is $220.
Missed June 30? Renewals received after it owe a $50 late fee. A license lapsed for less than three years can apply for reinstatement ($480), so contact the Commission straight away.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

Mid to late April 2027Look for the Commission's courtesy renewal notice. Check your mailing and email addresses on file.
Before June 30, 2027Renew online for $220. A license not renewed lapses on June 30.
After June 30Renewals received now owe a $50 late fee. Contact the Commission about reinstatement ($480).
Three years lapsedA license lapsed for more than three years needs a new application, with re-examination.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your $10,000 surety bond, filed with the Commission
Your firm's residential business Certificate of Authorization, if your firm needs one (an individual working in their own name, or owning at least 51% of the firm as its sole resident licensee, doesn't): the Commission's last deadline was June 30, 2026, and one not renewed by then must reapply
Your Contractor's Licensing Board license, if you also do commercial work over $10,000
City and county business licenses, which state law doesn't exempt residential specialty contractors from
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When do South Carolina residential electrician, plumber and HVAC licenses expire?

The Commission's FAQs say they're renewable every two years, before June 30 of each odd year (2023, 2025, 2027 and so on). A license not renewed lapses on June 30.

How much does it cost to renew a South Carolina residential specialty license?

The renewal fee is $220. Renewals received after June 30 also owe a $50 late fee.

Do South Carolina residential electricians, plumbers and HVAC installers need continuing education?

No: Title 40, Chapter 59 lets the Commission require CE by regulation, and its regulations (Chapter 106) set none.

What if my South Carolina residential electrician, plumber or HVAC license lapsed?

A license lapsed for less than three years can apply for reinstatement on the Commission's reinstatement application, for $480 ($220 renewal fee + $260 reinstatement fee). Lapsed for more than three years, you apply as a new applicant and retake the exam.

Do I need a surety bond?

If you'll do a job whose labor and materials together exceed $5,000, a $10,000 surety bond in your name as principal must be on file with the Commission before you perform or offer to perform it.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (RBC)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other South Carolina guides

All South Carolina guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

South Carolina Residential Electrician, Plumber & HVAC License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: Residential electrical, plumbing or HVAC work over $500 needs a license from the Commission. Commercial work over $10,000 may need a license from the Contractor's Licensing Board instead. A mechanical contractor licensed by the Contractor's Licensing Board, working in the classification of their own license, is exempt, and a residential builder licensed by examination in South Carolina may do residential specialty work without a separate specialty license
Expires: The Commission's FAQs: renewable every two years, before June 30 of each odd year (2023, 2025, 2027 and so on). A license not renewed lapses on June 30
Renewal notice: The Commission mails a courtesy renewal notice in mid to late April and sends a courtesy reminder eblast during renewal season. Renewing on time is your responsibility, and state law requires a current mailing address on file
Renew: Online through the Commission's renewal portal, with a checking account, Mastercard, Visa or American Express, your user ID and password, and a current email address on file. The portal can email your user ID or a password reset link to the address on file
One license at a time: Every license or registration is renewed separately by its credential number. The online renewal has a proxy payment link you can email to someone else to pay; you're responsible for making sure they pay on time
Renewal fee: $220
Late fee: $50, on every renewal received after June 30
Reinstatement: A license lapsed for less than three years can apply for reinstatement on the Commission's reinstatement application: $480 ($220 renewal fee + $260 reinstatement fee), by check or money order. Lapsed for more than three years, you apply as a new applicant and retake the exam
Surety bond: A $10,000 surety bond, issued in your name as principal (not a company's, unless it's a Certificate of Authorization bond), must be on file with the Commission before you perform or offer to perform a job whose labor and materials together exceed $5,000. Once an original bond on the current form is on file, the Commission can accept a Bond Continuation Certificate. The original bond or continuation certificate must be submitted to the Commission each time your bond is renewed
Continuing education: None: Title 40, Chapter 59 lets the Commission require CE by regulation, and its regulations (Chapter 106) set none
On the renewal form: State law requires renewal forms to list any outstanding judgments against you, or against any entity you were associated with, for the past five years
Changes: Tell the Commission in writing within 30 days of any change to the information it has on file, your mailing address included
Contact: South Carolina Residential Builders Commission, 110 Centerview Dr, Columbia, SC. 803-896-4696, Contact.RBC@llr.sc.gov

The Commission's FAQs say it licenses the individual, not the company, and that each person doing the work needs their own license.

How to renew

Watch for the Commission's courtesy renewal notice in mid to late April of an odd-numbered year, and make sure it has your current mailing and email addresses.
If you take on jobs over $5,000 in labor and materials, check that your $10,000 surety bond is current and on file.
Renew online before June 30, one license at a time by credential number, and list any outstanding judgments from the past five years. The fee is $220.
Missed June 30? Renewals received after it owe a $50 late fee. A license lapsed for less than three years can apply for reinstatement ($480), so contact the Commission straight away.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

Mid to late April 2027Look for the Commission's courtesy renewal notice. Check your mailing and email addresses on file.
Before June 30, 2027Renew online for $220. A license not renewed lapses on June 30.
After June 30Renewals received now owe a $50 late fee. Contact the Commission about reinstatement ($480).
Three years lapsedA license lapsed for more than three years needs a new application, with re-examination.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your $10,000 surety bond, filed with the Commission
Your firm's residential business Certificate of Authorization, if your firm needs one (an individual working in their own name, or owning at least 51% of the firm as its sole resident licensee, doesn't): the Commission's last deadline was June 30, 2026, and one not renewed by then must reapply
Your Contractor's Licensing Board license, if you also do commercial work over $10,000
City and county business licenses, which state law doesn't exempt residential specialty contractors from
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When do South Carolina residential electrician, plumber and HVAC licenses expire?

The Commission's FAQs say they're renewable every two years, before June 30 of each odd year (2023, 2025, 2027 and so on). A license not renewed lapses on June 30.

How much does it cost to renew a South Carolina residential specialty license?

The renewal fee is $220. Renewals received after June 30 also owe a $50 late fee.

Do South Carolina residential electricians, plumbers and HVAC installers need continuing education?

No: Title 40, Chapter 59 lets the Commission require CE by regulation, and its regulations (Chapter 106) set none.

What if my South Carolina residential electrician, plumber or HVAC license lapsed?

Do I need a surety bond?

If you'll do a job whose labor and materials together exceed $5,000, a $10,000 surety bond in your name as principal must be on file with the Commission before you perform or offer to perform it.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (RBC)

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other South Carolina guides

All South Carolina guides on one page

Electrician guides for other states

Compare electrician license renewals across states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for electricians

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet