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South Carolina

South Carolina Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for South Carolina.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in South Carolina

Sources last checked July 2026

South Carolina sets no maximum amount for a security deposit, leaving landlords free to charge whatever the market will bear. Landlords must still return the deposit, or an itemized statement of deductions, within 30 days under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410, and wrongfully withholding any part exposes them to triple damages plus attorney's fees. Eviction requires five days' notice for nonpayment and fourteen days to cure other violations, and a 1985 preemption, § 27-39-60, bars every county and municipality from enacting rent control.

  • 5-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
  • 30-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
  • No rent control — no statutory cap on rent increases
  • South Carolina does not specify a statutory minimum advance notice period for rent increases on residential tenancies.
  • South Carolina law sets no maximum amount for security deposits; landlords may charge any amount the market will bear.
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Security Deposit Limits

Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in South Carolina?

South Carolina law sets no maximum amount for security deposits; landlords may charge any amount the market will bear. However, landlords must return the deposit with a written itemized statement of deductions within 30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession by the tenant. If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant may recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees. For landlords renting more than four adjoining units who charge different deposit amounts, a posted or delivered statement explaining how amounts are determined is required.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410

Eviction Notice Requirements

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in South Carolina?

For nonpayment of rent, a landlord must provide written notice giving the tenant 5 days to pay the overdue rent or vacate before filing for eviction — unless the lease incorporates the specific statutory language permitting immediate court filing after the 5-day grace period. For other lease violations (noncompliance other than nonpayment), the landlord must deliver a written notice specifying the breach with a minimum 14 days to cure or the lease terminates. For unconditional termination such as illegal activity on the premises, no prior notice is required before filing. Self-help evictions (changing locks, removing doors, or cutting utilities) are prohibited; all evictions must proceed through Magistrate's Court.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-710

Rent Increase Notice Periods

Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in South Carolina?

South Carolina does not specify a statutory minimum advance notice period for rent increases on residential tenancies. Rent may not be increased during a fixed-term lease unless the lease expressly permits it. For periodic tenancies (month-to-month), the increase takes effect at the next renewal period; landlords are advised to provide written notice at least one rental period in advance as a best practice. Rent increases made in retaliation against a tenant who has filed a housing complaint are prohibited under § 27-40-910, and retaliatory increases above fair-market value expose landlords to triple damages.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in South Carolina?

South Carolina has no statewide rent control or rent increase cap. Landlords may raise rent by any amount, at any frequency, outside of a fixed-term lease. Since 1985, state law expressly prohibits every county and municipal corporation from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that regulates in any way the amount of rent charged for privately owned single-family or multi-unit residential or commercial rental property. As a result, no city or county in South Carolina — including Greenville and Columbia — has local rent control.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-39-60

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in South Carolina?

Either a landlord or tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by giving written notice at least 30 days before the specified termination date. For week-to-week tenancies, at least 7 days written notice is required before the termination date. Fixed-term leases expire automatically at the end of the term without additional notice, unless renewed. A tenant who remains in possession after the lease ends without landlord consent becomes a holdover tenant, and the landlord may bring an action for possession or, at the landlord's election, treat the holdover as a new periodic tenancy.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-770

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