South Carolina Moving Permits & Licenses: Stay Compliant to Avoid Penalties

How many approvals does it take to steer a 26-foot box truck through Charleston—or tow a century-old farmhouse from Summerville to Greenville without snapping a single utility line? In South Carolina, the correct answer depends on three factors: the weight of the load, its size after you strap it down, and the land you plan to cross. Household-goods carriers must carry a Class E Certificate issued by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and managed by the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS). Oversize haulers deal with a different gatekeeper—the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Oversize/Overweight (OS/OW) Permit Office—while anyone pulling an entire building faces a special set of “building-movement” rules. Add in federal USDOT regulations for interstate work and maritime licensing for overseas shipments, and the permit stack grows fast.

As a moving broker, Three Movers handles every sheet of that paperwork. We match you only with carriers that already meet South Carolina’s licensing rules, then secure route-specific OS/OW permits, certified pilot cars, and any local permissions your move demands. The result? A fully legal, insured move that hits each checkpoint on schedule—no roadside fines, no last-minute detours, and, most importantly, no stress on moving day.

1 │ Intrastate Household-Goods Movers

1.1 Licensing Authority

South Carolina regulates intrastate household moves through the PSC. Carriers must hold a Class E Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (PC&N) if they operate statewide, or a Certificate of Fit, Willing & Able (FWA) when they move solely within one city’s limits. ORS administers enforcement, audits, and insurance filings.

1.2 Application Steps

Step	What the Carrier Does	Broker Assurance
Complete PSC application	Fill transportation cover sheet, pay $150 fee	Three Movers verifies filing status
Publish legal notice	Run ad in local paper for two consecutive weeks	We monitor publication proof
Attend PSC hearing	Show public need & safety fitness	We coach carriers on testimony
Obtain ORS safety clearance	Submit vehicle lists, safety plans	We confirm cab-card issuance
File tariffs	Post-hourly or mileage rates with ORS	Tariffs reviewed before quoting
Post insurance & bonds	$300 k liability, $50 k cargo min	Certificates stored in our database

1.3 Cab Cards & Renewals

Each power unit must display an ORS cab card. Cards and certificates renew annually; carriers late on renewals face suspension. Three Movers tracks expiration dates and removes non-compliant fleets from its carrier pool automatically.

2 │ Oversize & Overweight Transport Permits

South Carolina’s base legal limits mirror most southeastern states:

Dimension	Legal Limit
Width	8 ft 6 in
Height	13 ft 6 in
Overall Length (vehicle + load)	75 ft
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)	80,000 lb

Anything larger or heavier requires an OS/OW permit from SCDOT.

2.1 Permit Options

Permit	Validity	Typical Uses
Single-Trip	5 travel days	One excavator or modular home
Annual	12 months, fixed width ≤12 ft & ≤120,000 lb GVW	Contractors moving cranes statewide
Superload	Trip-specific, engineer review	Loads >16 ft wide or >180,000 lb
Self-Propelled Crane	One year, statewide	Rough-terrain crane transfers
Envelope Permit	Multiple loads that share identical dimensions	Portable classrooms

2.2 Escort & Pilot-Car Rules

• Two-lane highways: one lead escort for widths 12 ft–14 ft; both lead + trail escorts above 14 ft or 110 ft length.
• Multi-lane highways: rear escort above 12 ft; lead escort added above 15 ft.
• Superloads may require South Carolina Highway Patrol escorts or utility bucket trucks.
  Escort drivers must hold a valid SCDOT certification and maintain VHF/CB radio contact with the load at all times.

2.3 Travel Restrictions

• Daylight only for most loads; night travel allowed for widths ≤10 ft with proper lighting.
• Major curfews: I-26 & I-95 corridor on holiday weekends, Myrtle Beach during peak tourist season, and statewide during hurricane evacuations.
• Spring frosts: SCDOT may impose speed or weight limits on secondary roads; active permits cannot override frost restrictions.

2.4 Application Details

Permits are filed online via SCDOT’s Permit Connect portal. Carriers upload: load dimensions, axle weights, route, and USDOT number. Superloads add structural-analysis spreadsheets and bridge check reports. Three Movers pre-validates each submission to reduce permit rejections and delays.

3 │ Building & Structure Moves

Pulling a frame house or historical church down a South Carolina highway triggers stricter rules.

3.1 Building-Mover License

Carriers moving structures over public highways must:

1. Hold a valid Class E Certificate (or FWA if strictly local).
2. File a Building-Mover Permit application with SCDOT if any dimension exceeds 16 ft in width or 15 ft in height.
3. Provide proof of $1 million liability and $100 k cargo coverage, plus workers’ compensation.

3.2 Route Surveys & Utility Coordination

• Route Survey: Required for heights over 16 ft or GVW above 180,000 lb. Survey maps note bridge clearances, power-line crossings, and tree-removal points.
• Utility Notices: Movers must give utilities ten business days to raise lines. Costs often prepaid or bonded.
• Performance Bond: Some counties demand a $25,000–$50,000 bond to cover road surface or sign damage.

Three Movers pairs you with structure-moving specialists who handle line-lift agreements and local road closures in one bundle.

4 │ Mobile & Manufactured Homes

Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes also need a Moving Permit Decal issued by the county tax collector after verifying property-tax clearance. The decal must be affixed to the left front window or transport frame and remains valid for 30 days. Movers then secure an SCDOT OS/OW permit just like other oversize loads.

5 │ Interstate Moves (USDOT / FMCSA)

Crossing state lines for your move activates federal rules:

• USDOT Number and MC Authority for household goods.
• Minimum liability coverage: $750,000 ($1 million if passenger-carrier mixed).
• Cargo bond: $5,000/$10,000.
• Consumer-protection packet “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.”

Three Movers’ compliance engine scans FMCSA databases nightly and blocks carriers that lapse in authority or insurance.

6 │ International & Coastal Moves

Moving overseas or to Puerto Rico adds another layer:

• Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) License via the Federal Maritime Commission if the carrier issues an ocean bill of lading.
• Marine Cargo Insurance for full replacement value.
• Customs Paperwork: ISF filings (for imports), ACE e-manifests (for Canada), and wood-packing certificates.

Our brokerage contracts with FMC-licensed forwarders and tracks customs milestones to prevent port delays or demurrage charges.

7 │ Local & Utility Right-of-Way Permits

State permits do not grant blanket permission for city streets. Example hotspots:

• Charleston: Single-trip oversize permit ($50) plus police escort if load crosses the Ravenel Bridge between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Columbia: Oversize loads must avoid Gervais Street bridge during weekday rush; city barricade crews bill costs directly to carrier.
• Greenville County: Loads over 14 ft high on county roads require 48-hour notice to the Public Works Department.

Our local-permit tracker flags every municipality on your route, bundles fees, and schedules any police or bucket-truck escorts.

8 │ Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Scenario	Minimum Coverage
PSC Class E intrastate	$300k auto liability / $50k cargo
Building mover	$1 M liability / $100k cargo
Standard OS/OW	Liability scaled to GVW (often $1 M)
Superload >180,000 lb	SCDOT may request $2–$5 M umbrella
Interstate HHG	$750k–$1 M liability / $5k-$10k cargo bond
International ocean	Marine policy to declared value

Three Movers receives certificates straight from insurers and stores them on file—clients never chase paperwork.

9 │ Compliance & Recordkeeping

• Permit Display: Drivers must carry digital or paper copies; law enforcement can revoke a permit if documentation is missing.
• Daily Vehicle Inspections: Required for any power unit >10,001 lb engaging in interstate commerce or OS/OW intrastate hauls.
• Accident Reports: Property damage over $2,000 or any injury must be reported to ORS within 30 days and noted on the carrier’s safety profile.
• Tariff Updates: HHG carriers must re-file if rate increases exceed 10 percent in one calendar year.

Common Pitfalls & Brokerage Solutions

Pitfall	How Three Movers Prevents It
Permit filed after truck dispatched	Automated workflow locks dispatch until permits are issued
Frost-season weight limits ignored	Our routing tool overlays SCDOT spring restriction maps
Escort vehicles uncertified	Database flags pilot-car certificates nearing expiry
Municipal permit forgotten	Local-permit calendar sends reminders 14 days ahead
Insurance lapses mid-trip	Continuous monitoring of insurer cancellation notices

Quick-Reference Permit Checklist

• □ Class E or FWA Certificate (intrastate HHG)
• □ ORS Cab Cards attached to each power unit
• □ SCDOT OS/OW Permit (single-trip, annual, or superload)
• □ Certified Pilot Cars booked per width/length table
• □ Building-Mover Permit + county bonds (if relocating a structure)
• □ Mobile-Home Decal from county treasurer (if applicable)
• □ Municipal Oversize Permits (Charleston, Columbia, etc.)
• □ USDOT/MC Authority (interstate work)
• □ FMC OTI License & Marine Insurance (international)
• □ Insurance Certificates on file and current
• □ Tariff Posted and consumer packet ready (HHG carriers)

Why Book Through Three Movers?

1. Total Compliance Oversight – We pre-screen every carrier for South Carolina licensing, insurance, and safety ratings.
2. Permit Concierge – From SCDOT superload reviews to city police escorts, we handle paperwork end-to-end.
3. Real-Time Tracking – Our portal notifies you the moment permits clear and pilot cars check in.
4. Cost Transparency – Permit and escort fees are quoted up front; you’ll never see surprise surcharges.
5. Stress-Free Service – Your focus stays on the new house or job, not on figuring out who raises the power lines.

Ready for a legally seamless South Carolina move? Reach out—our team will deliver a step-by-step permit timeline within one business day.

📚 Key Sources

• South Carolina ORS Transportation Division – Household Goods Carrier guidelines, Class E & FWA processes
• PSC Household Goods Application Packet & Tariff Filing rules (Chapter 103 regulations)
• SCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Office – permit types, validity, and fees
• SCDOT Pilot & Escort Vehicle requirements for oversize loads
• South Carolina Code of Laws § 31-17-320 – Mobile-home tax clearance and moving permit decal
• Governor’s Executive Order 2024-01 – emergency size/weight waivers and travel curfews for severe weather

(*All regulations reviewed and current as of June 2025.)