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

Section 13.7 of the Development Standards Ordinance bars any mobile or manufactured home from being permitted, used, or occupied, and bars public utilities from being extended or activated to it, until Codes Enforcement inspects the home and finds it habitable. The ordinance defines habitable in specific terms: no defect, damage, or deterioration creating a dangerous or unsafe condition; plumbing, heating, and electrical systems in safe working order; walls, floors, and roof free of holes, breaks, or rotting boards and structurally sound; and exterior doors and windows in place and unbroken.

Beyond that general standard, Section 13.7 lists five required facilities: sanitary fixtures including a kitchen sink, lavatory, tub or shower, and water closet properly connected to an approved water and sewer system; hot and cold running water at the sink, lavatory, and tub or shower from an approved potable supply; heating facilities capable of safely heating all habitable rooms and bathrooms, with an approved alternative required where no central system exists; cooking and heating equipment installed to Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards; and a smoke detector under item five.

Section 13.8 backs the habitability rule with enforcement teeth: if an inspection finds a home does not meet these standards, Codes Enforcement can require repairs, deny electricity to force compliance, or require removal of the unit at the owner's expense, though hardship exceptions of up to 30 days may be granted.