Rental Property Rules in Charleston, SC (2026)
6 verified rental property rules for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
South Carolina Code Section 27-37A preempts municipalities from enacting rent control on private residential properties, leaving Charleston unable to cap rent increases regardless of local affordability pressures or tourism-driven displacement.
South Carolina Bans Local Rent Control
Few RestrictionsJust Cause Eviction
Charleston has no just-cause eviction ordinance because South Carolina's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets uniform statewide grounds, leaving landlords free to non-renew month-to-month tenancies with thirty days written notice for any non-discriminatory reason.
No Just-Cause Eviction in Charleston
Few RestrictionsRental Registration
Charleston requires every residential landlord earning rental income within city limits to obtain an annual business license under Chapter 8 of the Code, with gross-receipts-based fees due each April for the prior calendar year.
Charleston Business License For Landlords
Some RestrictionsSecurity Deposit Rules
South Carolina URLTA requires landlords to return a tenant's security deposit, less itemized lawful deductions, within thirty days after termination of tenancy, with the tenant's forwarding address triggering the deadline statewide.
Security Deposit Return Within 30 Days
Some RestrictionsSource-of-Income Discrimination
South Carolina law does not prohibit landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers or other lawful income sources, and Charleston has no local source-of-income ordinance, so housing-choice voucher holders frequently face advertised refusals.
No Source-of-Income Protection in SC
Few RestrictionsSection 8 Voucher Acceptance
The Housing Authority of the City of Charleston administers federal Housing Choice Vouchers locally, but landlord participation is voluntary because South Carolina lacks source-of-income protection, leaving voucher holders to negotiate acceptance individually.
Charleston Housing Authority Vouchers
Some RestrictionsLooking for Charleston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Charleston County →