Landlord laws
South Carolina landlord-tenant law
South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, S.C. Code Title 27 ch. 40, plus §§ 27-39-60 and 31-21-40 (official text, scstatehouse.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Not specified in state statute. South Carolina statutes set no maximum security deposit. We checked every section of ch. 40. | S.C. Code ch. 27-40 | Not in statute |
| Deposit return deadline | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered (or the tenant's demand, if later), return the deposit minus accrued rent and tenant damage, with a written itemized notice. The tenant must give a forwarding address in writing. Wrongful withholding can cost three times the amount plus attorney's fees. | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Not specified in state statute. No statute requires paying interest or using a separate account. We checked every section of ch. 40. | S.C. Code ch. 27-40 | Not in statute |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. South Carolina statutes set no late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked every section of ch. 40. Note: Late-fee limits, if any, come from the lease and contract case law, not statute. | S.C. Code ch. 27-40 | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Give at least 24 hours' notice and enter only at reasonable times. Without consent you may enter anytime in an emergency, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for scheduled periodic services the lease conspicuously allows, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for services the tenant asked for. In those last two cases you must announce before entering. | S.C. Code § 27-40-530 | Verified |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. We checked every section of ch. 40. Month-to-month tenancies end on 30 days' written notice (§ 27-40-770), so give at least that. You can't raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it. | S.C. Code § 27-40-770 | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | Rent control is preempted statewide. No county or city may regulate the amount of rent on private residential property. | S.C. Code § 27-39-60 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | If rent isn't paid within 5 days of the due date, you may terminate after giving written notice of nonpayment and your intent to terminate. One notice covers the whole lease term. The notice requirement is also met if the lease has the statutory "IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME" clause in conspicuous language. | S.C. Code § 27-40-710(B) | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | For a material breach, give written notice that the lease ends at least 14 days after receipt unless the breach is fixed within 14 days. If the tenant fixes it, or starts within 14 days and diligently finishes, the lease doesn't end. | S.C. Code § 27-40-710(A) | Verified |
| Required disclosures | At or before move-in, disclose in writing the name and address of the owner or an authorized agent for service and notices, and keep it current (§ 27-40-420). If you rent more than 4 adjoining units and use different deposit standards, post or give the criteria (§ 27-40-410(c)). For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | S.C. Code §§ 27-40-420, 27-40-410(c); 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | South Carolina's fair housing law covers the same classes as federal law: race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status and national origin. It adds none. | S.C. Code § 31-21-40 | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for South Carolina landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.