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

Sec. 9-26(a) authorizes the code official to condemn a structure or equipment found unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful. The section defines an "unsafe structure" as one dangerous to life, health, property or public safety because it lacks fire safeguards or is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or so poorly built that partial or complete collapse is possible, and separately defines unsafe equipment, structures unfit for occupancy, and unlawful structures. Sec. 9-26(a)(5) lists specific dangerous conditions that make a structure or premises "dangerous," including fire, earthquake, flood or vandalism damage likely to cause collapse, foundations likely to fail, abandonment that creates an attractive nuisance for children or vagrants, and construction that violates the adopted building or fire code so as to present a substantial risk of collapse or fire.

Under Sec. 9-26(b), once the code official finds a structure violates the code and is dangerous to health, safety or welfare, the structure is condemned; Sec. 9-26(c) authorizes closing up a vacant, unfit structure that is not in danger of collapse, with the cost of closing charged against the property as a lien if the owner fails to act. Sec. 9-26(f) through (h) let the code official placard a noncompliant structure "condemned," and anyone who occupies or removes the placard without approval faces the code's penalties.

Sec. 9-28 lets the code official order demolition of a structure too deteriorated to reasonably repair, or one abandoned mid-construction for more than two years, with demolition costs becoming a lien on the property if the owner fails to comply.