Homelessness & Encampment Rules in South Carolina (2026)
12 rules on the books across South Carolina, 9 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Sit-Lie Rules
Citywide rules against sitting or lying on public sidewalks during specified daytime hours in commercial corridors, including how courts have constrained enforcement.
Charleston
Significant RestrictionsCharleston bans sitting or lying on public sidewalks along the King and Market Street corridors between 8:00 a.m. and…
Read full rule →Columbia
Significant RestrictionsColumbia bans sitting, lying down, sleeping or storing property on public streets, sidewalks, benches and medians, and…
Read full rule →Lexington County
Significant RestrictionsLexington County makes it unlawful under Sec. 46-2 to loiter, meaning to remain idle in one spot, loaf, or wander…
Read full rule →Rock Hill
Some RestrictionsRock Hill does not ban sitting or lying on sidewalks outright. City Code § 26-17(c) makes it a violation to remain…
Read full rule →York County
Some RestrictionsYork County does not ban sitting or lying on public sidewalks outright. Under § 131.03(A), a person only violates the…
Read full rule →Encampment Sanitation
How cities provide trash, hygiene, and bulky-item pickup at encampments, the CARE/CARE+ cleanups in LA, and the storage-of-belongings rules from Lavan v. LA.
Beaufort County
Heavy RestrictionsBeaufort County bans camping, sleeping, tent-erecting, campfires and cooking on any county government-owned property or…
Read full rule →Berkeley County
Heavy RestrictionsBerkeley County bans camping on any public property it owns or maintains, from streets and parking lots to parks and…
Read full rule →York County
Heavy RestrictionsYork County bans camping on any street, sidewalk, park, playground or other public property at any time unless a…
Read full rule →Aiken County
Significant RestrictionsAiken County bars camping in county parks except in designated areas and only with written approval from the director…
Read full rule →Columbia
Significant RestrictionsColumbia bans camping and storing personal property in any city-owned park, defining camping as erecting tents or…
Read full rule →Horry County
Significant RestrictionsHorry County makes it unlawful to camp anywhere on county-owned property, from parks and boat landings to road…
Read full rule →Rock Hill
Significant RestrictionsRock Hill's Code of Ordinances bans camping on any street, sidewalk, park, or playground under Section 26-17(e), along…
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