Permitting Process

The Permitting Process typically begins with a wetland delineation to determine if wetlands or other waters that may be regulated by the Corps are present on a property. If a project will impact a jurisdictional wetland or other water, then a permit from the Corps may be required.  Useful documents, links, and information about Delineations, Jurisdictional Determinations, Pre-Application Meetings, Permit Exemptions, Nationwide Permits, Regional PermitsIndividual Permits, and the Permit Application and  Permit Resources are available on this page.   Please contact us if you have questions about any aspect of the permitting process.

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 Pre-Application Meetings  

A Pre-application meeting is an optional step in the permitting process. Pre-application meetings may be requested for any type of proposed project, but it is recommended for those projects that may be complex and/or potentially controversial.

Please use the below form to request a pre-application meeting with the Corps.  All available project information may be submitted with the request. 

 

 2021 Nationwide Permits

 

On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 2744) announcing the reissuance of 12 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and four new NWPs, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. These 16 NWPs went into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026. Click here for the 16 NWPs.  

On December 27, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 73522) announcing the reissuance of 40 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and one new NWP. These 41 NWPs went into effect on February 25, 2022, and they will expire on March 14, 2026. Click here for the final rule.

Final Regional Conditions for 2021 Nationwide Permits in Charleston District (SAC)  (for all 57 NWPs, effective February 25, 2022)

The Charleston District has developed a table to assist prospective permittees with determining which state permits may be required, as well as the Water Quality Certification and/or Coastal Zone Consistency conditions that would apply to specific NWPs in the State of South Carolina. Click here for the Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Consistency Table

Information on the 401 Water Quality Certifications and Coastal Zone Consistency Certification Actions is available on the  S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control website.  

Checklists for the 2021 NWPs

NWP-3

NWP-6

NWP-7

NWP-12

NWP-13

NWP-14

NWP-18

NWP-27

NWP-29

NWP-33

NWP-36

NWP-38

NWP-39

NWP 48

NWP-57

NWP-58

 

 

 

 Regional General Permits

The Charleston District has developed Regional General Permits to authorize specific activities that cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts to aquatic resources separately or on a cumulative basis. The below Regional General Permits are available for use within the State of South Carolina.

General Public

SC Department of Natural Resources

SC Department of Transportation

 

 Individual Permits


Projects that do not qualify for Nationwide or Regional General Permits are reviewed as Individual Permits. Individual Permit decisions are made on a case-by-case basis after project evaluation.


 

 Permit Application and Other Useful Forms and Permit Resources

Quick Links