Charleston, SC Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

City Code Section 7-91(a) declares a dwelling unfit for human occupancy when it is unsafe, unlawful, in disrepair, unsanitary, vermin- or rat-infested, contains filth, or lacks ventilation, illumination, sanitary or heating facilities required by the International Residential Code. Section 7-91(b) sets six baseline requirements every dwelling must meet: a code-compliant exit from the building and from every sleeping room; water supplied from a DHEC-approved well or an on-site metered public connection; sanitary waste disposal through a DHEC-approved septic system or public sewer; electricity through an on-site meter or a city-approved alternative source; an approved heat source from October 1 through May 1; and a lock on every exterior door.

4 sets 65 degrees for occupied indoor work spaces. The public safety and housing officer, a duty assigned to the chief building official, inspects dwellings for compliance and can issue a complaint under Section 7-92 leading to a repair, vacate-and-close or demolition order under Section 7-94. Owners who fail to maintain these minimum standards, including exterior grading, drainage and interior stair conditions addressed elsewhere in Article IV, are subject to the enforcement provisions built into that article and the adopted property maintenance code.