South Carolina · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

South Carolina eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in South Carolina must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

5 days.

Notice for unpaid rent
5 days
Time to respond in court
The magistrate issues a 'Rule to Vacate or Show Cause.' You have 10 days after it is served to ask for a hearing; if you don't, you can be evicted without one.
Lockouts
Banned

If you get an eviction notice

  1. Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
  2. Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
  3. Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
  4. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
  5. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in South Carolina

Notice for unpaid rent
5 days. If rent isn't paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord can end the lease after giving written notice. Warning: only one notice is needed for the whole lease, and if your written lease contains the 'IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME' paragraph, that counts as the notice and you will get no other warning.
Notice for a lease violation
14-day written notice to fix (cure) the problem; if you fix it in time, or start in good faith and finish within a reasonable time, the lease doesn't end.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
At least 30 days' written notice by landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: 7 days.
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
The magistrate issues a 'Rule to Vacate or Show Cause.' You have 10 days after it is served to ask for a hearing; if you don't, you can be evicted without one.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs
Yes. If the landlord locks you out or cuts off essential services, you can get back in or end the lease and recover three months' rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.
Court self-help
The court's eviction self-help page
Law
S.C. Code §§ 27-40-660, 27-40-710, 27-40-770; § 27-37-20

Eviction notice timeline for South Carolina

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Enter the date you got the noticeThe timeline appears when you pick a date.

Dates are estimates from the rule in our data. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business or court days, and we don't skip holidays.

Where to get free help in South Carolina

Retaliation in South Carolina

The landlord may not raise rent above fair-market value, cut essential services, or file for eviction because you complained to a code agency or complained to the landlord about violations. You can use it as a defense and get the lockout remedies. Warning: if your defense has no merit, you may owe the landlord's attorney fees, and up to 3 months' rent or triple damages if raised in bad faith. No presumption period. S.C. Code § 27-40-910.

Rent increases and rent control in South Carolina

Notice of a rent increase
No statute sets a rent increase notice. For month-to-month tenancies, a change in practice comes with the 30-day notice needed to end the tenancy.
Rent control
No statewide rent control or rent cap.

Questions about eviction in South Carolina

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in South Carolina?

5 days. If rent isn't paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord can end the lease after giving written notice. Warning: only one notice is needed for the whole lease, and if your written lease contains the 'IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME' paragraph, that counts as the notice and you will get no other warning.

How much notice for a lease violation in South Carolina?

14-day written notice to fix (cure) the problem; if you fix it in time, or start in good faith and finish within a reasonable time, the lease doesn't end.

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in South Carolina?

At least 30 days' written notice by landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: 7 days.

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in South Carolina?

The magistrate issues a 'Rule to Vacate or Show Cause.' You have 10 days after it is served to ask for a hearing; if you don't, you can be evicted without one.

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in South Carolina?

Yes. If the landlord locks you out or cuts off essential services, you can get back in or end the lease and recover three months' rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.

More for South Carolina renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.