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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Adopted code
Int'l Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Ed.
Minimum heat, habitable rooms
68°F, Oct. 1 to May 1
Minimum heat, work spaces
65°F, Oct. 1 to May 1
Screen requirement
16 mesh per inch, year-round
Violation penalty
Misdemeanor, Magistrate's Court
Governing section
County Code § 5-22(h)

Summary

Unincorporated Greenville County enforces the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, against landlords who fail to provide heat or pest-proof screens. Owners must maintain at least 68°F in habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms from October 1 through May 1, and every ventilation opening in a food or living area needs a tightly fitting screen of at least 16 mesh per inch.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Greenville County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Section 602.3 Heat Supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guest room on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 1, to May 1, to maintain a temperature of not less than 68°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. Section 602.4 Occupiable Work Spaces. Indoor occupiable workspaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 1 to May 1 to maintain a temperature of not less than 65°F during the period the spaces are occupied. ... Section 304.14 Insect Screens. During the period from January 1 to December 31, every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas ... shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch and every swinging door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

Full Breakdown

County Code § 5-22(h) adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, to govern existing residential and rental property outside Greenville, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn and Travelers Rest. 3 places the heating duty squarely on the landlord: every owner and operator of a building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guest room must supply heat from October 1 to May 1 sufficient to keep habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms at not less than 68°F. 4 extends a similar, slightly lower duty to occupiable work spaces, which must be kept at not less than 65°F during the same season while occupied.

14 requires every door, window and other outside opening used for ventilating habitable rooms or food preparation and storage areas to carry an approved, tightly fitting screen of not less than 16 mesh per inch, year-round from January 1 to December 31, and every swinging door serving those spaces needs a self-closing device in good working condition. 4 makes violating or failing to comply with the code a misdemeanor triable in Magistrate's Court, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense, and Section 110 lets the code official issue a stop work order on any repair being made unsafely. 4, reinforcing that habitability enforcement in the county runs through this one property maintenance chapter rather than a standalone landlord-tenant ordinance.

Violations & Fines

Failing to supply required heat, screens or other Property Maintenance Code standards is a misdemeanor under Section 109.4, punishable in Magistrate's Court, with each day the condition continues charged as a separate offense. The code official can also issue a stop work order under Section 110 if repair work itself is being done unsafely, and continuing that work afterward brings the same misdemeanor penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my landlord required to provide heat in unincorporated Greenville County?
Yes. Section 602.3 of the adopted Property Maintenance Code requires any owner who rents a dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guest room to supply heat from October 1 through May 1 that keeps habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms at not less than 68°F. Indoor occupiable workspaces get a 65°F minimum under Section 602.4.
What screening does a rental need in Greenville County?
Section 304.14 requires every door, window or other outside opening used to ventilate a habitable room, food preparation area or food storage area to have a tightly fitting screen of at least 16 mesh per inch, in place year-round, and any swinging door serving those spaces must have a working self-closing device.
What can I do if my landlord won't fix a heat or screen problem?
Report it to Greenville County Building Safety & Code Enforcement, which enforces the Property Maintenance Code. A violation is a misdemeanor under Section 109.4, prosecuted in Magistrate's Court, and each day the condition continues counts as a separate offense until the owner brings the unit into compliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Greenville County

All Greenville County rules

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