Updated
Does South Carolina require a septic license?
Yes. South Carolina requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. South Carolina licenses septic installers in three tiers and licenses pumpers; licenses renew yearly. State law (S.C. Code 30-2-50) bars using this data for commercial solicitation.
Who licenses septic contractors in South Carolina?
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.
South Carolina's septic credentials:
- Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 installer licenses
- Pumper/hauler license
How to check a septic contractor's license in South Carolina
- Open the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services lookup.
- Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number.
- Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active.
- If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
Septic permits in South Carolina
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In South Carolina, permits for new systems, replacements and most repairs come from the local health department or the state agency office that covers the property. Ask your installer to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Licensed septic companies in South Carolina
The Septic Guide lists 1,487 septic companies and licensed professionals in South Carolina, 1,468 matched to the state's published list. Source list: SCDES septic contractor map data. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Anderson County (136)
- Spartanburg County (133)
- Greenville County (119)
- Oconee County (82)
- Pickens County (82)
- York County (72)
- Lexington County (59)
- Charleston County (52)
All septic companies in South Carolina →
South Carolina septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. South Carolina licenses septic installers in three tiers and licenses pumpers; licenses renew yearly. State law (S.C. Code 30-2-50) bars using this data for commercial solicitation.
Who issues septic licenses in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services issues South Carolina's septic credentials: Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 installer licenses; Pumper/hauler license.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in South Carolina?
Open the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services lookup. Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number. Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active. If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
How many licensed septic contractors are in South Carolina?
The Septic Guide lists 1,487 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in South Carolina, 1,468 of them matched to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services list (data as of October 2026). This counts what we could match; it is not an official total.
Do you need a permit for a septic system in South Carolina?
New septic systems, replacements and most repairs need a permit before work starts. The permit comes from the local health department or the state agency office that covers your property, and the permit, not the contractor license, is what authorizes a specific job.
Sources: South Carolina Department of Environmental Services; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.