Columbia, SC Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Sec. ' Before a permit issues, the owner or landlord must certify the property meets the city's minimum code, and if they're unsure, city staff will inspect on request. A property that fails inspection has 30 days to fix the noted defects and schedule a follow-up. Permits are non-transferable between owners, each individual property needs its own separate permit, and the permit year always runs January 1 through December 31 regardless of when it was issued. Renewing more than 60 days past expiration adds a late penalty of five percent of the unpaid fee per month.

Under Sec. 00 inspection fee if the property fails a second inspection. Sec. 5-327 requires the application to list the owner's name, address and phone number, the unit's address, and the name of a responsible local representative within 45 miles of the city. If the fee remains unpaid 120 days after expiration and the property is still rented, Sec. 5-326(g) directs the city to issue a uniform ordinance summons to municipal court for a Sec. 5-337 violation.