Pageland, SC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Article III of Chapter 8 sets Pageland's standards for nonresidential buildings that, in the building official's opinion, 'endanger the life, limb, health, property, safety or welfare of the general public or their occupants or detract excessively from the appearance of the commercial area in which they are located' (Section 8-41). It reaches every nonresidential building in town, existing or newly built, including churches, clubs and nonprofits under Section 8-42's definitions. Section 8-45 is the demolition trigger: once the building official or fire chief finds a building damaged by fire, decay or any other cause to 50 percent of its value, the town administrator serves the owner and any occupant written notice by certified mail or personal service that the building should be torn down within 30 days of receipt; an owner who disagrees can appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

If the building official separately finds a building an imminent danger to public health or safety, Section 8-45(b) lets him order immediate vacation of the unsafe premises and any endangered adjacent premises, and even divert traffic from the street. Beyond outright demolition, Section 8-47 requires the building official to issue a detailed report on any conditions violating Article III, with abatement work required to start within 30 days and finish within 90 days of the notice, though the official may grant extensions under special circumstances. 00, with each day of continued violation an additional offense.