South Carolina (SC) law guide
Quick answer
South Carolina landlord-tenant law is governed by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Ann. Sections 27-40-10 to 27-40-940). The state sets no cap on security deposits, requires landlords to return deposits within 30 days, gives tenants a 5-day pay-or-quit window before eviction, and mandates 24-hour notice before landlord entry. South Carolina has no statewide rent control and bars cities from enacting it.
Security deposit limit
No statutory cap
Deposit return deadline
30 days after move-out
Statewide rent control
None, prohibited statewide
Nonpayment eviction notice
5-day pay-or-quit notice
South Carolina rental market snapshot
Population
5.4 million
Renter households
About 28% of households statewide (53% in Columbia, 44% in Charleston)
Median rent
$1,596/mo for a 2-bedroom
Largest rental markets
Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg
South Carolina rents held relatively flat in 2025 after a 30% pandemic-era surge, but Charleston and Greenville remain noticeably above the state median.
South Carolina sets no maximum on the security deposit amount a landlord may charge. Landlords must return the deposit (with an itemized written statement of any deductions) within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates.
Allowable deductions include unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the deposit, the tenant can sue for three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees (S.C. Code Section 27-40-410).
South Carolina has no statewide rent control, and state law bars cities and counties from passing their own rent control ordinances. Landlords may raise rent freely at any lease renewal as long as proper notice is given before the new term begins.
There is no statute setting a grace period for late rent, and no cap on late fees, though fees must be stated in the lease. Tenants generally cannot withhold rent unilaterally for repairs; they must follow the formal repair-and-deduct or rent-escrow process.
For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give the tenant a written 5-day pay-or-quit notice (S.C. Code Section 27-40-710). If the tenant pays in full within 5 days, the eviction process stops. If not, the landlord may file in magistrate court.
For other lease violations, the landlord must give 14 days to fix the problem before filing for eviction. Self-help evictions (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) are illegal and expose the landlord to damages.
Landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours advance notice before entering for inspections, repairs, or showings (S.C. Code Section 27-40-530). Entry must occur at reasonable times. No notice is required for genuine emergencies.
For habitability complaints, landlords have 14 days after receiving written notice from the tenant to begin making repairs (Section 27-40-610). If the repair cannot be finished in 14 days but the landlord starts work in good faith and pursues completion, the tenancy is not automatically terminated.
Every tenant in South Carolina has the right to a habitable dwelling, meaning working heat, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural safety (S.C. Code Section 27-40-440). Landlords must keep common areas clean and safe.
Retaliation is illegal. A landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or file for eviction in response to a tenant who complains to a government agency or exercises any legal right (Section 27-40-910). If retaliation is proven, the tenant can terminate the lease or recover damages.
South Carolina landlords must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. South Carolina does not currently add protected classes beyond federal law at the state level.
Tenants may break a lease early without penalty for active military deployment (under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act), documented domestic violence, or if the landlord materially fails to maintain habitability. Otherwise, the tenant may owe rent through the end of the lease unless the landlord re-rents the unit. Small claims disputes up to $7,500 can be filed in magistrate court without an attorney.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Governing statute: S.C. Code Ann. Sections 27-40-10 through 27-40-940 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Laws change; confirm the current statute or consult an attorney before acting. Last reviewed 2026-06-05.
South Carolina FAQ
South Carolina law sets **no maximum** on security deposit amounts. Landlords may charge any amount they choose, though the deposit must be returned with an itemized statement within 30 days of move-out.
Landlords have **30 days** after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates to return the deposit or send a written itemized list of deductions. Missing that deadline can cost the landlord three times the withheld amount plus the tenant's attorney fees.
South Carolina has no rent control and no statute specifying a required notice period for rent increases. In practice, landlords must give notice before a new lease term begins, and any mid-lease rent hike is not allowed without tenant agreement.
Landlords must give **at least 24 hours written notice** before entering for repairs, inspections, or showings, and must enter at reasonable times. No notice is required for genuine emergencies.
The landlord must serve the tenant a written **5-day pay-or-quit notice**. If the tenant pays in full within 5 days, the eviction stops. If not, the landlord files a summons in magistrate court, and a hearing is typically scheduled within 10 to 30 days.
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