South Carolina Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026)
Last reviewed: July 2026
South Carolina has no security deposit cap and requires return within 30 days. Its 5-day nonpayment notice can be satisfied by a conspicuous clause in the lease itself, letting landlords file immediately once rent is five days late. Rent control is preempted, and entry requires 24 hours' notice.
General information, not legal advice. Verify with the current statute or a local attorney before acting.
South Carolina landlord-tenant rules at a glance
| Security deposit limit | No statutory limit |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days |
| Notice to enter | 24 hours' notice |
| Rent control | Preempted/none |
| Eviction notice (nonpayment) | 5-day notice to pay or quit (a conspicuous lease clause can serve as standing notice) |
| Late fee rule | No statutory cap, must be reasonable and stated in the lease |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days |
| Governing statute | South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40) |
Security deposits in South Carolina
The deposit rule in South Carolina is: No statutory limit. After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit within 30 days, typically with an itemized statement for any amounts withheld. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges the statute or lease allows — routine repainting and carpet aging from ordinary use generally cannot be charged to the tenant. Both parties should document the unit’s condition at move-in and move-out; disputes usually turn on that evidence.
Landlord entry and tenant privacy
South Carolina’s entry rule is: 24 hours' notice. Entry is generally limited to legitimate purposes such as repairs, inspections, and showings, and emergencies allow immediate entry everywhere. Where the statute is silent or vague, courts fall back on the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment, so landlords should give written notice and enter at reasonable hours regardless of the statutory minimum.
Rent increases and rent control
Rent control status in South Carolina: Preempted/none. Even without rent control, a landlord cannot raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it, and periodic tenancies require proper advance notice of an increase — commonly the same notice period used to terminate (30 days in South Carolina). Retaliatory increases after a tenant exercises a legal right are prohibited in most states.
Eviction process overview
For unpaid rent, South Carolina requires: 5-day notice to pay or quit (a conspicuous lease clause can serve as standing notice). If the tenant does not pay or leave, the landlord files an eviction case (the name varies: unlawful detainer, summary process, forcible entry and detainer), serves the tenant, and attends a hearing. Only a court judgment followed by a sheriff or constable can remove a tenant — lockouts and utility shutoffs are illegal in every state. Timelines vary from a few weeks to several months depending on court backlog and whether the tenant contests the case.
Late fees
South Carolina’s late fee rule: No statutory cap, must be reasonable and stated in the lease. Even where no statutory cap exists, courts can strike down fees that operate as penalties rather than reasonable estimates of the landlord’s actual cost, and the fee must appear in the written lease to be enforceable.
Ending a lease or month-to-month tenancy
To end a month-to-month tenancy in South Carolina, the required notice is: 30 days. Fixed-term leases end on their own schedule unless renewed, though some states and cities require just cause or additional notice even at lease end. Notice should always be written, dated, and delivered by a method the statute recognizes.
Is South Carolina landlord-friendly or tenant-friendly?
South Carolina is generally considered landlord-friendly. South Carolina lets a lease clause substitute for the 5-day eviction notice, has no deposit cap or rent control, and keeps fee rules minimal.
Official source
The governing law is the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40). Read the current text at the state’s official legislative site: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/statmast.php.
South Carolina landlord-tenant law FAQs
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in South Carolina?
- Security deposits in South Carolina are governed by the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40). The deposit rule is: No statutory limit. After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit (minus properly documented deductions) within 30 days. Landlords who miss the deadline or take undocumented deductions can owe the tenant damages, so both sides should document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out and keep an itemized statement of any charges. Deposit rules are amended fairly often, so verify the current statute before relying on a specific number.
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in South Carolina?
- For nonpayment of rent, South Carolina requires: 5-day notice to pay or quit (a conspicuous lease clause can serve as standing notice). That notice is only the first step, a landlord cannot legally remove a tenant without then filing an eviction case and winning a court judgment, and self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are prohibited. Local courts and city ordinances can add procedural steps, so check the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40) and local rules before starting an eviction.
- Can a landlord enter a rental property without permission in South Carolina?
- South Carolina's entry rule is: 24 hours' notice. Genuine emergencies (fire, flooding, gas leaks) are a standard exception in every state, and lease clauses can add detail but generally cannot strip a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment. For ending a month-to-month tenancy, South Carolina requires 30 days of notice. When in doubt, put entry requests and termination notices in writing and confirm the current rule in the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40).
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Related Lofty resources
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change — verify with the current statute or a local attorney before acting. Rules reflect widely documented statutes as of July 2026; cities and counties in South Carolina may add their own requirements.