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

Greenwood County Code § 6-1-5 lets the county code enforcement office act against any structure that is unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, dangerous or otherwise unlawful, and it defines a pool, wall, fence or other accessory structure as a "structure" for these purposes under § 6-1-5(c). Once the code enforcement office makes that finding, § 6-1-5(e) requires the owner to abate or correct the condition through repair, rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action. If a structure has been abandoned and become vacant but is not in danger of collapse, the office can order it closed up to prevent it from becoming an attractive nuisance, and if the owner does not comply, the county can close and secure the premises itself and charge the cost against the property as a lien.

If construction stops and no permit is issued or renewed for 180 days, the owner can be ordered to bring the structure into conformance with the International Building Code or to demolish it, with two 90-day extensions available on a showing of active progress, and further extensions from the Greenwood County Board of Zoning Appeals. Where repair is unreasonable or impossible, the owner can be ordered to board the structure for future repair, not to exceed one year without approval, or to demolish and remove it.

If the owner still does not comply with a demolition order, § 6-1-5(e)(6) lets the county demolish and remove the structure itself, through a public agency or a private contractor, and charge the cost against the real estate as a lien. Agricultural buildings such as barns, sheds and storage buildings are exempt from this section.