South Carolina Homeowner Protections vs. HOA: Flags Yes, Solar No (S.C. Code § 27-1-60)

South Carolina gives homeowners limited statutory rights against HOA covenants. Section 27-1-60 protects flag display: a homeowners' association document "may not preclude the display of one portable, removable United States flag by homeowners," displayed respectfully. By contrast, South Carolina has no enacted solar-access law for HOAs — measures to bar covenants from prohibiting solar energy systems (e.g., Bills 422, 3979, 4460) have been introduced but not enacted, so an HOA's declaration may currently restrict or prohibit solar panels. There is also no enacted statewide statutory protection for political or for-sale signs against HOA rules; sign limits come from the recorded declaration. The HOA Act's transparency provisions (recording, budget notice, document access) supplement but do not override declaration-based use restrictions.

No specific statutory penalty. A flag restriction conflicting with § 27-1-60 is unenforceable. For solar and most signs, no state protection exists, so the recorded declaration controls and HOA-authorized remedies (fines, injunctions) apply.