Rental Inspections 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
Inspection Programs
Proactive rental inspection programs, registration requirements, systematic and periodic inspection cycles, what inspectors check, and the fees landlords pay to fund them.
Charleston
Significant RestrictionsCharleston requires landlords in designated pilot neighborhoods, Cannonborough/Elliottborough, Radcliffeborough and…
Read full rule →Richland County
Significant RestrictionsUnincorporated Richland County requires owners of non-owner-occupied rental homes to register the property in the…
Read full rule →Rock Hill
Significant RestrictionsRock Hill, South Carolina runs an audit-based inspection program for registered residential rental units under City…
Read full rule →Columbia
Some RestrictionsColumbia inspects rental units for Property Maintenance Code and rental-ordinance violations under Sec. 5-336, but only…
Read full rule →Tenant Complaint Process
How tenants can file complaints about code violations, what triggers a city inspection, and protections against landlord retaliation for reporting issues.
Horry County
Significant RestrictionsAt least five Horry County residents can file a written complaint that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation…
Read full rule →Orangeburg County
Significant RestrictionsIn unincorporated Orangeburg County, the code official investigates any dwelling reported as unfit for human habitation…
Read full rule →Charleston
Some RestrictionsCharleston residents can trigger a formal unfitness investigation by petitioning the public safety and housing officer…
Read full rule →Columbia
Some RestrictionsSec. 5-336 lets any complainant trigger a rental-housing inspection by giving code enforcement their name, address, and…
Read full rule →Dorchester County
Some RestrictionsTenants and neighbors can force a county inspection of a substandard dwelling by getting five residents to sign a…
Read full rule →Mount Pleasant
Some RestrictionsWhen Mount Pleasant's Code Enforcement Official finds an apartment, tenement, or dwelling kept in an unsanitary…
Read full rule →Pickens County
Some RestrictionsA renter in unincorporated Pickens County can trigger a housing-code inspection by filing a written request with the…
Read full rule →Rock Hill
Some RestrictionsA tenant or anyone else can trigger an out-of-cycle inspection of a Rock Hill rental unit by filing a complaint of…
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