Beaufort County, SC Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- State authority
- S.C. Code § 31-15-310 et seq.
- Complaint threshold
- 5+ residents or administrator's motion
- Hearing window
- 10 to 30 days after notice
- Repair start deadline
- Within 60 days of order
- Circuit court appeal window
- 60 days
Summary
Beaufort County can order any dwelling repaired, closed or demolished when the county administrator finds it unfit for human habitation under Code of Ordinances § 74-133, whether from dilapidation, fire and safety hazards, missing ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or structural deterioration. The Unfit Dwellings article, §§ 74-131 through 74-144, governs unincorporated-county housing conditions under state authority.
Whenever the county administrator or his designated representative(s) finds that there exist in the county, dwellings which are unfit for human habitation due to:(a)Dilapidation;(b)Defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities;(c)Lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities;(d)Extreme or structural deterioration so as to render dwelling unsafe; or(e)Other conditions rendering such dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety or morals or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the county, the county may exercise its police powers to repair, close or demolish any such dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
C. , and § 74-132 defines "county" for the article as the area outside the municipalities and "dwelling" as any building used or intended for human habitation, including outhouses and appurtenances. Section 74-133 lists the conditions that make a dwelling unfit: dilapidation; defects that increase fire, accident or other hazards; lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; extreme or structural deterioration rendering it unsafe; or other conditions that are unsafe, unsanitary, dangerous or otherwise harmful to residents' welfare, and it lets the county use its police power to repair, close or demolish the dwelling.
A finding of unfitness follows the process in § 74-135: a complaint from at least five residents, or the administrator's own motion, triggers a preliminary investigation and, if warranted, a written complaint and a hearing set not less than ten nor more than 30 calendar days after service. Section 74-136 then requires any resulting order to identify the property, state the findings supporting unfitness, and set deadlines, such as commencing repair work within 60 days.
Violations & Fines
If an owner ignores an unfitness order, § 74-138 lets the county administrator repair, vacate and close the dwelling, posting a placard reading "This building is unfit for human habitation; the use or occupation of this building for human habitation is prohibited and unlawful," or have it removed or demolished outright. Section 74-141 makes the cost of any county-performed repair or demolition a lien against the property, collectible like county taxes, and § 74-139 allows an owner to petition the circuit court for an injunction within 60 days of the order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a dwelling "unfit for human habitation" in Beaufort County?
Who can start an unfit-dwelling case against a rental in the county?
Does the unfit-dwelling article apply inside the City of Beaufort?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beaufort County
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