Cherokee County, SC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 12-62 turns on condition: lots or premises lying within the county limits in a condition that constitutes a present or potential hazard to the public health. The anti-litter officer issues a written notice to the owner, and the owner has 15 days to bring the property within the article. Section 12-63 covers the owner who refuses or neglects to abate. That person faces Division 4 of the article, and the anti-litter officer has the duty to have the nuisance removed or abated, with all expense recoverable from the owner or the premises, or from any person causing or maintaining the condition, in the same manner as debts of like amounts are recoverable by law.

The purpose clause in Section 12-30 lists what the article reaches: transporting loose materials, illegal dumping, unlawful disposal, handbills, nuisances, weeds and debris. The county litter officer is supervised by the Cherokee County Administrator under Section 12-31, and Section 12-61 authorizes and requires the anti-litter officer to cause the inspection of any premises within the limits of the county whenever necessary to enforce the article.

Structures follow a separate track. Section 6-1(h) adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, with its Chapter 1 replaced by the Cherokee County Property Maintenance Code Administration Chapter 1, effective January 1, 2023, and Section 6-9 applies it to the entire unincorporated area of Cherokee County. Under Section 6-14 the building official can issue stop work orders, revoke permits and seek injunctive orders, orders of mandamus or orders of specific performance. An aggrieved permit holder or property owner appeals to the county administrator within 10 days under Section 6-7.

Junkyards carry the sharpest label. Section 7-139 finds that they are a visual blight, and Section 7-140 declares those that do not conform to Article IV public nuisances.