South Carolina’s rules come from the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Chapter 40). It is a strongly landlord-tilted state: no deposit cap, no rent control (preempted by S.C. Code § 27-39-60), and no source-of-income protection. Nonpayment uses a 5-day notice — and that notice can be written into your lease, so you may not get a separate warning before the landlord files. Vouchers come from local authorities, with SC Housing running the program in a handful of “balance of state” counties. This page covers the authorities to apply to, the tenant-law framework, and where to get help.
- SC211 — dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, and shelter help · sc211.org
- South Carolina Legal Services: 1-888-346-5592 · sclegal.org
- SC Housing (state HFA, renters/HCV): 803-896-8888 · 1-800-236-4009
- SC Human Affairs Commission (fair housing): (803) 737-7800
- LIHEAP (Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity): 803-734-0662
- HUD fair housing: 1-800-669-9777
Major South Carolina public housing authorities
Vouchers and public housing in South Carolina come from local authorities; the state agency (SC Housing) directly administers the Housing Choice Voucher program only in seven “balance of state” counties — Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, and Lexington. The largest city authorities are:
- Housing Authority of the City of Charleston — PHA SC001, (843) 727-3167; waitlists closed
- Columbia Housing (Columbia Housing Authority) — PHA SC002, (803) 254-3886; most lists closed, though some senior and three-bedroom public-housing pre-applications opened in early 2026
- The Greenville Housing Authority (TGHA) — PHA SC004, (864) 467-4250; waitlists closed
- Housing Authority of Spartanburg — PHA SC003, (864) 598-6000; HCV and public-housing waitlists closed
Use HUD’s PHA directory and read how to find your PHA. For tax-credit apartments, search HUD’s LIHTC database.
SC Housing & state programs
SC Housing — the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (renters line 803-896-8888 or 1-800-236-4009, schousing.sc.gov) — runs the balance-of-state voucher program (its statewide HCV list has been closed), and it allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, issues mortgage revenue bonds, and administers HOME, the National Housing Trust Fund, the SC Housing Trust Fund, and Palmetto Home Advantage homebuyer loans. Outside the seven balance-of-state counties, apply to your city or county authority.
Emergency rent & utility help in South Carolina
- County Emergency Solutions Grant programs — Charleston and Richland counties, among others, run rent-assistance programs; the Salvation Army and Community Action Agencies also help (SC Stay Plus and federal ERA2 have ended)
- LIHEAP — the SC Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (803-734-0662) funds heating and cooling help through Community Action Agencies; see utility assistance programs
- Dial 211 for the current list of rent and deposit funds, plus emergency rental assistance
South Carolina tenant law: key protections at a glance
Quick reference: South Carolina
- Voucher administrator: local authorities (Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg) plus SC Housing in seven balance-of-state counties
- Source-of-income protection: none
- Rent control: preempted by S.C. Code § 27-39-60
- Nonpayment notice: 5 days — and it can be written into the lease (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(b))
- Lease-violation notice: 14 days to cure (§ 27-40-710(a))
- Month-to-month termination: 30 days (§ 27-40-770)
- Security deposit: no cap; returned within 30 days with an itemized statement, or the landlord owes triple (§ 27-40-410)
- Self-help eviction: illegal — a tenant can recover three months’ rent or twice actual damages, whichever is greater (§ 27-40-660)
Security deposits
South Carolina sets no cap on the deposit, but protects the return: within 30 days after the tenancy ends and you demand it, the landlord must return it or provide a written itemized statement of deductions, and wrongful withholding makes the landlord liable for three times the amount plus attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-410). A landlord with more than four adjoining units who uses different deposit standards must post or disclose them. Read how to recover your security deposit.
Eviction process & how long it takes
For nonpayment, the notice is 5 days (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(b)), but because that notice can be built into the lease, you may not get a separate warning before the landlord files an Application for Ejectment in magistrate court. You then have 10 days (if served personally) or 20 days (if posted) to request a hearing; a writ of ejectment gives 24 hours to vacate. Uncontested cases can run about three to six weeks, longer if contested or appealed. Contact South Carolina Legal Services (1-888-346-5592), and read how to avoid eviction.
Source of income & fair housing
South Carolina has no source-of-income protection — the state Fair Housing Law (S.C. Code Chapter 31-21) covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability, but not source of income — so a landlord may legally decline a Housing Choice Voucher. Unlike Alabama and Mississippi, South Carolina does have a state fair-housing agency: the SC Human Affairs Commission (803-737-7800) takes discrimination complaints. See our source-of-income protections guide.
Coastal costs, veterans & supportive housing
- Charleston and Greenville pressure — the Charleston peninsula’s limited supply and the Greenville-Spartanburg boom (the state’s first metro to top a million residents) have pushed rents well above pre-pandemic levels, so apply to waitlists early and widely
- HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
- Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains defenses and what to do before your court date
Nearby states
Comparing states or planning a move? South Carolina’s neighbors handle deposits, notice, and vouchers differently:
- North Carolina tenant rights
- Georgia tenant rights
- Alabama tenant rights — a one-month deposit cap and a seven-business-day notice
- Mississippi tenant rights — a 3-day notice and regional housing authorities
- Tennessee tenant rights
Where to get help in South Carolina
Tenant help & legal aid: South Carolina Legal Services (statewide intake 1-888-346-5592) handles housing and eviction cases for income-eligible tenants.
Discrimination complaints: the SC Human Affairs Commission (803-737-7800) files fair-housing complaints; you can also file with HUD (1-800-669-9777).
Vouchers & local PHAs: apply to Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, or Spartanburg, or to SC Housing in a balance-of-state county, via the HUD PHA directory.
211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, and shelter help statewide.
Next Steps
Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool maps South Carolina programs to your situation in about two minutes.
Because a 5-day notice can be written into your lease, call South Carolina Legal Services (1-888-346-5592) as soon as you fall behind, and read eviction prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on my security deposit in South Carolina?
No — South Carolina sets no statutory maximum. But the landlord must return your deposit, or a written itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after you move out and demand it; wrongful withholding lets you recover three times the amount plus attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-410).
How many days' notice before eviction for late rent in South Carolina?
Five days (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(b)). Because that notice can be built into your lease, you may not get a separate warning before the landlord files an Application for Ejectment in magistrate court, so act as soon as you fall behind.
Can a South Carolina city pass rent control or make landlords accept my voucher?
No. S.C. Code § 27-39-60 bars local rent control, and there is no statewide source-of-income law, so landlords may legally refuse Housing Choice Vouchers. Bills to add source-of-income protection or rent control have been introduced but not enacted.
Who runs Section 8 in South Carolina?
Local authorities do — Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg are the largest — while SC Housing (the state agency) runs the voucher program directly in seven balance-of-state counties: Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, and Lexington. Most waitlists have been closed, so check each one.
My landlord changed the locks — is that legal in South Carolina?
No. Self-help eviction is illegal. If a landlord unlawfully excludes you or cuts off essential utilities, you can recover possession or terminate the lease and recover three months' rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-660).
Where do I report housing discrimination in South Carolina?
Unlike some neighboring states, South Carolina has a state agency — the SC Human Affairs Commission (803-737-7800) — that takes fair-housing complaints. You can also file directly with HUD (1-800-669-9777). Source of income is not a protected class, so voucher refusal alone is not covered.