Depending on the extent of the additions, you may qualify for an amendment to an existing, active permit or you may qualify to make an addition under the dock general permit. The general permit authorizes minor additions such as catwalks, roofs on existing pierheads, handrails, utilities, benches, storage boxes, sinks, and mooring piles. If you wish to increase the square footage of a dock, add a floating dock or a floating or fixed boat storage structure, the dock general permit is not applicable and you will need to either modify your existing permit or apply for a new one. To amend a permit, please visit ePermitting to apply online.

How to Apply for a Critical Area Permit Amendment

1. Please visit ePermitting to apply online via the BCM Permit Change Form (Amendments, Transfers, Extensions). An ePermitting account and an active, existing permit will be required to apply for all amendments. The applicant will need to have access to the existing permitted site in ePermitting to start the BCM Permit Change Form (Amendments, Transfers, Extensions). If you need assistance with the application process or would like to discuss your proposed project before submitting an application, use the BCM Project Manager Finder App to locate the Critical Area Permitting Project Manager for your region.  

2. A non-refundable administrative application fee is required. Please see the Fee Schedule below. This fee may be paid electronically via ePermitting or paid by check payable to SCDES BCM.

3. The application requires the following information regarding the project and the property involved:

• The names, addresses, telephone numbers, and emails of the landowners and authorized agents
• The dimensions, specifications, and purpose of the project
• The names and complete mailing addresses and emails of all adjoining property owners
• A detailed description of the location of the project

4. An Affidavit of Ownership or Control form must be completed, signed and notarized and include one of the following: 1) legal description and/or copy of the certified plat of the property or 2) a certified copy of the deed, lease, easement, or other instrument under which the applicant claims title, or permission from the owner of the property to carry out the proposed activity.

5. Applications must be accompanied by drawings that are produced, stamped and signed by one of the following professional groups: registered land surveyors, registered professional engineers or registered landscape architects. These individuals must be licensed in the state of South Carolina. SCDES BCM will not accept hand drawings or other drawings not meeting these criteria. Applications with drawings judged to be inexact and unprofessional will not be placed on public notice and will be returned to the applicant. Click here for more information on the drawing requirements. 

6. A location map(s) showing the location of the proposed activity is required.  

7. Applicants or their agents are required to run a one-day public notice in a local newspaper. The subsequent affidavit of publication should then be submitted to SCDES BCM. The notice must run within fifteen days of SCDES BCM's public notice. Affidavits of publication outside of this window will be returned, a new ad will need to be placed in the appropriate newspaper, and a new affidavit of publication will need to be submitted.

Once a complete application has been submitted, SCDES BCM will run a 10 calendar day public notice for an amendment to a critical area permit.  

Fee Schedule