Florence County, SC Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Sec. 21-2 defines specific nuisances the county acts on: junk cars, trash and abandoned equipment, and unsafe structures. Under Sec. 21-3, a neighbor within 1,500 feet of the property may file a written complaint on the county's form at the Planning and Building Inspection Office; the code official may also act on an anonymous written complaint if the violation is clearly evident from a public roadway or right-of-way and is substantially material, not merely technical, in the opinion of the planning/codes enforcement office director. Once a complaint is received, Sec.

21-4 requires the code official to investigate, then serve a notice describing the violation, a correction deadline, and appeal rights. An informal conference follows, at which the owner may sign a written abatement agreement setting a reasonable timetable to fix the condition. If the owner ignores the notice, refuses to sign an agreement, or breaches one, the code official may summon the owner to Florence County Magistrate Court. A property owner who disagrees with the code official's order can appeal in writing to the magistrate court within five days; the hearing is conducted under oath with cross-examination and a preponderance-of-evidence standard, with the burden on the code official, and the court can grant hardship relief in appropriate cases.

If the owner still does not comply, the county can clean, remove, or safeguard the property through Public Works or a bid contractor and charge the cost as a lien against the real estate.