Pickens County, SC Code Violation Reporting: Response Times (2026)

Pickens County Code § 8-74(3) sets the timing rule for housing code hearings: after the enforcement officer issues a complaint and gives notice of a hearing under § 8-74, the hearing date must be fixed not less than ten days nor more than 30 days after the complaint was served on the owner under the § 8-75 service procedure. Subsection (4) requires the officer to inform the recipient of the right to file an answer and to appear in person and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaint, and to disclose that the formal rules of evidence used in courts of law or equity do not control at the hearing before the public officer.

After the hearing, § 8-76 requires the officer, if he finds the dwelling unfit, to issue written findings of fact and an order requiring repair, alteration or improvement, or vacating and closing the dwelling, within 60 days or another time stated in the order, or, if repair is not cost-reasonable, removal or demolition within the time stated in the order. An owner who disagrees with the outcome can petition the circuit court for review under § 8-79.