Pickens County, SC Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing officer
- County housing enforcement officer
- Governing ordinance
- Standard Housing and Abatement Ordinance
- Common triggers
- Fire hazards, disrepair, trash, structural defects
- Who must fix it
- Owner, or tenant if tenant caused it
- General penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
In unincorporated Pickens County, the housing enforcement officer can declare a dwelling unfit for human habitation under the Standard Housing and Abatement Ordinance. Violations include fire hazards, poor ventilation or sanitation, disrepair, structural defects and uncollected trash. The owner, or the tenant who caused the condition, must fix it or face a misdemeanor charge.
The enforcement officer may determine that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation if he finds that conditions exist in such dwelling which are dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants of such dwelling, the occupants of neighboring dwellings or other residents in the county. Such conditions include but are not limited to: (1)Defects in the dwelling increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities;(2)Lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities;(3)Dilapidation or failure to perform maintenance as outlined in section 8-44;(4)Disrepair;(5)Structural defects;(6)Failure to remove trash or garbage from the premises;(7)Any other condition which could pose a danger to the health, safety or welfare to a person residing in the dwelling or anyone else who could be adversely affected by such conditions.
Full Breakdown
Pickens County Code § 8-73 lets the county's designated housing enforcement officer determine that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation whenever conditions exist that are dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants, neighboring dwellings, or other county residents. The section lists seven non-exclusive categories: fire, accident or calamity hazards; lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; dilapidation or failure to perform the maintenance duty set out in § 8-44; general disrepair; structural defects; failure to remove trash or garbage from the premises; and any other condition dangerous to health, safety or welfare.
Under § 8-44, the property owner is normally responsible for maintenance, repair and alteration of the structure, but § 8-73 shifts responsibility to the tenant when the tenant caused the condition. Enforcement runs through Division 2 of Article II (§§ 8-71 through 8-80): the housing official (§ 8-71) or an agent may enter the property during reasonable hours after showing identification (§ 8-72), and may seek a magistrate's search warrant if entry is refused. Once a violation is confirmed, the officer proceeds under § 8-74's complaint procedure, § 8-76 hearing and order process, and § 8-77 enforcement, which can end in repair, vacating, closing, or demolition of the structure at the owner's cost, secured by a lien under § 8-80.
Violations & Fines
A person found guilty of violating the maintenance duty in § 8-44, or of failing to comply with a housing officer's order under § 8-77, commits a misdemeanor. Where no specific penalty is stated, Pickens County Code § 1-7 sets the general penalty at a fine up to $500.00 or imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions can get a dwelling declared unfit in Pickens County?
Who is responsible for fixing a violation, the landlord or the tenant?
Can the county enter my property to inspect a complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pickens County
Compare Pickens County to another location·View the South Carolina code violation reporting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.