The short version: South Carolina licenses residential contractors through the Residential Builders Commission at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). A Residential Builder license is required when a job exceeds $5,000; a Residential Specialty Contractor must register when the project is over $500. Verify at llr.sc.gov. South Carolina law requires a written contract over $200, and treats home repair fraud against a senior (62 or older) or a person with a disability as an aggravated offense.

South Carolina’s residential licensing, by project size

South Carolina is a licensed state, and it sorts residential contractors into two credentials by the size and type of work.1 The Residential Builders Commission, inside the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), issues both.

CredentialWhen it is required
Residential Builderbuilding, repairing, or improving a home when the cost exceeds $5,000
Residential Specialty Contractora single trade (roofing, siding, flooring, drywall, painting, masonry) when the project is over $500

For most senior projects, you will be in one of these bands. A whole bathroom remodel at $14,000 needs a licensed Residential Builder. A $3,000 re-roof or new flooring job needs a registered Residential Specialty Contractor. Below the thresholds, neither is required, but a reputable contractor holds one.

This is the South Carolina-specific companion to our national state contractor license lookup guide. For the full pre-hire workflow, see How to Find a Senior-Friendly Contractor.

How to verify: llr.sc.gov

To verify: open the LLR license lookup at llr.sc.gov, or verify.llronline.com.1 Search by company name, individual name, or license number. The database updates nightly.

Check:

  1. Status active (not expired, suspended, revoked)
  2. Credential type Residential Builder vs Residential Specialty Contractor
  3. Name matches the business and person on your contract
  4. Disciplinary history any recent Commission action

A contractor who needs the credential for your project size but cannot show an active one is not legal to hire for that work.

The Home Repair Fraud law protects seniors

South Carolina backs its licensing with a home repair fraud law, and it gives seniors a specific layer of protection.

First, the basics: South Carolina requires a written contract for any home repair or improvement over $200.2 A contractor who works on a verbal handshake over that amount is already breaking the law.

The senior layer: South Carolina treats home repair fraud committed against an elderly person, defined as 62 or older, or against a person with a disability, as aggravated home repair fraud, a more serious offense than the same act against a younger homeowner.3 A contractor who defrauds a senior faces stiffer consequences.

Contractor violations also count as unfair trade practices under South Carolina’s consumer protection law, enforced by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney General.2 Get scope, materials, total price, and dates in writing before any deposit, and pay by check or card, never cash.

Other trades and commercial work

The two-credential Residential Builders Commission system covers home building and remodeling. Larger commercial and mechanical work is handled separately by the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board.1

For most senior aging-in-place projects, you will stay in the residential system. If a job adds major electrical or mechanical work, confirm the contractor or sub holds the right credential for that trade.

South Carolina senior scam patterns

  • Post-hurricane roofers The Lowcountry, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head draw out-of-state roofing crews after every coastal storm. They knock door to door with damage claims and pressure to sign on the spot.
  • Inland hail and wind pitches Upstate and Midlands storms bring “free inspection” offers that turn into high-pressure sales.
  • Driveway sealcoating crews A regional regular: leftover material offered at a discount, thin work, and a crew gone by morning.
  • Your defenses the LLR complaint process, the aggravated home repair fraud law, and the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.2

If something goes wrong

  • Contractor problems: file with the LLR Residential Builders Commission at llr.sc.gov, which licenses and disciplines residential contractors.
  • Consumer fraud generally: South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs at consumer.sc.gov, or the Attorney General at scag.gov.
  • Elder financial abuse: contact local law enforcement and Adult Protective Services. South Carolina runs a Vulnerable Adults Investigations Network.
South Carolina verification in 30 seconds:
  • Verify at llr.sc.gov or verify.llronline.com (updates nightly)
  • Residential Builder license required when a job exceeds $5,000
  • Residential Specialty Contractor registration required when over $500
  • Written contract required for any home repair over $200
  • Fraud against a senior (62+) or person with a disability is aggravated home repair fraud
  • Verify insurance and bond with the carrier directly ($1M GL for $10K+ jobs)
  • Post-hurricane coastal roofers active; never door-to-door

Citations

  1. Residential Builders Commission and License Lookup. South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), retrieved June 16, 2026. .
  1. Consumer Protection and Senior Scam Resources. South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA), retrieved June 16, 2026. .
  1. Consumer Protection and Antitrust. South Carolina Attorney General, retrieved June 16, 2026. .
  1. Home Improvement Scams Targeting Older Adults. AARP Fraud Watch Network, June 2024. .