York County, SC Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in York County, SC, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Just cause
- Not required
- Notice for nonpayment
- 5 days
- Statute
- S.C. Code §27-40-710
- Eviction court
- Magistrate's court
- County authority
- None
Summary
South Carolina has no just-cause eviction rule, and York County cannot add one. Under S.C. Code §27-40-710 a landlord ends a tenancy for unpaid rent with a five-day written notice, then files for eviction in magistrate's court.
If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within five days from the date due or the tenant is in violation of Section 27-40-540, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement provided the landlord has given the tenant written notice of nonpayment and his intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within that period.
Full Breakdown
No statute forces a South Carolina landlord to prove cause before ending a tenancy. The South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, §27-40-710(B), lets a landlord terminate for nonpayment once rent is five days late, provided written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate was given. The landlord then files an ejectment action in magistrate's court and must win a judgment before a constable removes anyone. A county cannot impose just cause, relocation payments, or a good-cause defense; South Carolina counties hold no such power. The tenant's protection is the process itself: written notice, a hearing, and a court order.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who skips the required notice or forces a tenant out without a magistrate's order faces liability for an unlawful self-help eviction, and the ejectment case can be dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my landlord need a reason to evict me?
How much notice comes before eviction for unpaid rent?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
Compare York County to another location·View the South Carolina rental property rules overview
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