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

C. (§ 6-60) and defines 'County' for this article as the area of Dorchester County outside its municipalities (§ 6-61(1)), so the process runs in the unincorporated county rather than inside Summerville or North Charleston. Under § 6-62, the county administrator or a designated representative can act whenever a dwelling is unfit due to dilapidation, fire or accident hazards, poor ventilation, light or sanitation, disrepair, structural defects, uncleanliness, or other conditions dangerous to health, safety or welfare. The process starts with a complaint: § 6-64 lets at least five county residents petition the administrator, or the administrator can act on his own motion, triggering a preliminary investigation, written notice to the owner, and a hearing set 10 to 30 days after service.

If the administrator finds the dwelling unfit, § 6-65 requires a written order describing the property and the defects, giving the owner 60 days to secure permits and begin repairs if repair is ordered, or a set demolition timeline if demolition is ordered. Section 6-66 draws the line between the two outcomes at cost: if repairs would cost 50 percent or less of the dwelling's fair market value, the owner must repair or vacate it; above that threshold, the owner must remove or demolish it.

' Section 6-68 gives an owner 60 days from service to petition the circuit court for an injunction, though the administrator's factual findings are conclusive if evidence-supported, and § 6-70 lets the county recover its repair or demolition costs as a lien on the property, collectible the same way as county taxes.