CL-100 Inspection Cost (2026)

A CL-100 inspection, the Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report, typically costs $75 to $150 in 2026. That fee covers the inspection and the completed report only; any termite or wood-destroying organism treatment and any repairs are quoted and paid separately. Some operators discount or waive the fee when the CL-100 is bundled with an existing service contract, and a few charge toward the top of the range for larger homes or homes with extensive crawlspace.

The CL-100 is the Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report: a standardized point-in-time report on visible wood-destroying organism activity, existing damage, and conducive conditions in the accessible parts of a structure. Most South Carolina mortgage lenders and closing attorneys require a current CL-100 before they will fund or close on a home, so it is ordered in nearly every SC residential real estate transaction. It is not a legal requirement of the state itself; it is a lender and closing requirement.

The CL-100 reports conditions on the day of inspection, so it has no formal statewide expiry, but most South Carolina lenders and closing attorneys will not accept a report older than 30 days. In practice the CL-100 is ordered close to the closing date rather than early in the process. If a closing is delayed past the 30-day window, a re-inspection or an updated letter is usually needed.

A CL-100 documents three things across the accessible parts of the structure: wood-destroying organisms (subterranean and drywood termites, wood-boring beetles, and wood-decay fungi), existing damage from those organisms, and conducive conditions such as excessive moisture, standing water, wood-to-soil contact, and poor sub-area ventilation. The inspection for decay fungi is limited to the portion of the structure below the level of the first main floor. It is a visible-and-accessible inspection, not a destructive or forensic one.

Only a pest control company licensed in South Carolina with a certified inspector in the Wood-Destroying Organism category can perform the inspection and issue a CL-100. Pest control and wood infestation reporting in South Carolina are regulated by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) at Clemson University, which is the enforcement authority for pesticide use, sub-standard treatments, and wood infestation reports under the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act.

The CL-100 flags excessive moisture as a conducive condition when wood moisture readings reach or exceed 20 percent, or when there is standing water in the crawlspace or foundation area. Wood-decay fungi become active and cause damage at roughly 28 percent moisture content and above. Excessive moisture is normally corrected by installing a polyethylene vapor barrier over the crawlspace soil or adding foundation vents; fungicidal treatment cannot be applied until the physical moisture problem is fixed.

No. A standard or annual termite inspection is a routine check that a homeowner commissions for peace of mind, often free from an operator and usually recorded as a verbal or simple written note. A CL-100 is the regulated, standardized report on the official South Carolina form used for a real estate transaction or lender requirement. The CL-100 carries legal weight and must be certified by a licensed inspector, which is why it is a paid document rather than a free lead-generation visit.

No. The $75 to $150 CL-100 fee is for the inspection and the report only. If the inspector finds active infestation, damage, or a conducive condition that must be corrected, the treatment (liquid barrier, bait, or spot treatment, typically $500 to $2,500 for a home in South Carolina) and any structural repairs are quoted and billed separately. Get those figures in writing before committing, and treat the CL-100 as a diagnosis, not a repair bill.

It is negotiable and set in the purchase contract, but in South Carolina practice the seller commonly pays for the CL-100 because it is used to certify the property being sold. In a competitive market a buyer may agree to pay for it. Where the report finds active infestation or damage, the contract usually governs who pays for the required treatment and repairs, so read the wood infestation clause in the contract before the inspection is ordered.