S.C. Code Ann. § 27-33-10
Definitions
Operative Text
(1) Domestic servant. —A person using or occupying real estate while serving another as a domestic servant shall be deemed a "domestic servant"; (2) Farm laborer. —A person using or occupying real estate while working either as a sharecropper or otherwise as a farm laborer shall be deemed a "farm laborer"; (3) Tenant at will. —Every person other than the owner of real estate, excepting a domestic servant and farm laborer, using or occupying real estate without an agreement, either oral or in writing, shall be deemed a "tenant at will"; (4) Tenant for a term. —A person other than the owner using or occupying real estate under a written or oral agreement shall be deemed a "tenant for a term"; (5) Tenant for years. —A person other than the owner using or occupying real estate under a written agreement for a term of one year or more shall be deemed a "tenant for years"; (6) Agricultural renter. —A person renting lands for agricultural purposes shall be deemed an "agricultural renter"; (7) Landlord.—"Landlord" shall be construed to include the owner or person in possession or entitled to possession of the real estate used or occupied by the tenant as well as the employer of farm laborers and domestic servants; and (8) Tenant.—"Tenant" shall be construed to mean tenant at will, tenant for a term, tenant for years, domestic servant, farm laborer, sharecropper and agricultural renter.
Section 27-33-10 of the South Carolina Code establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Chapter 33 of Title 27, which governs landlord-tenant relationships in the state. It categorizes occupants of real estate into distinct types—such as tenant at will, tenant for a term, tenant for years, agricultural renter, domestic servant, and farm laborer—based on the nature and duration of their occupancy or work arrangement. The definitions also clarify that 'landlord' encompasses not only property owners but also those entitled to possession, as well as employers of farm laborers and domestic servants. These classifications determine which rights and obligations apply to each party under the broader statutory framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-33-10, the term 'landlord' is defined broadly to include not just the titleholder of real estate but also any person entitled to possession, as well as employers of domestic servants and farm laborers. Property owners and managers operating in South Carolina generally ensure that their agreements and practices align with the correct occupant classification, since the category of tenancy—at will, for a term, or for years—affects the legal procedures that govern the relationship. Operators who employ farm laborers or domestic servants on their property should be aware that § 27-33-10 brings those relationships within the scope of the landlord definition under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 27-33-10 establishes the definitions that determine what type of occupant a person is under South Carolina's landlord-tenant law, which in turn shapes the rights and protections available to them. Whether someone occupies property without any agreement (tenant at will), under an oral or written agreement (tenant for a term), or under a written agreement of one year or more (tenant for years) affects how the rest of Chapter 33 applies to their situation. Tenants who are uncertain about which category applies to their living arrangement may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with South Carolina's Title 27 framework.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 19, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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