North Charleston, SC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Under Section 10-29, once the public safety and housing committee determines a building is unfit for human habitation after notice and hearing, it must issue a written order: if repair is reasonable relative to the building's value, the owner must repair, alter, or improve the structure, or vacate and close it; if not, the owner must remove or demolish it. The committee can also order emergency repairs by the owner or the city to address immediate public-safety dangers before any appeal period runs, though emergency orders cannot require demolition before that period expires. If the owner ignores the order, the city can do the work under Sections 10-30 through 10-32 and place a lien on the property for the cost.