S.C. Code Ann. § 27-39-60
Counties and municipal corporations restricted from regulating rent charged for certain dwellings
Operative Text
No county or municipal corporation may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which would regulate in any way the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single family, or multiple unit residential, or commercial rental property. This section may not be construed as prohibiting any county or municipal corporation, or any authority created by a county or municipal corporation for that purpose, from regulating in any way property belonging to the county or municipal corporation or from entering into any agreements with private persons which regulate the amount of rent to be charged for rental properties.
Section 27-39-60 of the South Carolina Code establishes a statewide preemption of local rent regulation. Under this provision, no county or municipality in South Carolina is permitted to pass, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that controls the rent amounts charged for privately owned residential or commercial rental properties. The law does carve out exceptions, allowing local governments to regulate rent on property they themselves own or to enter into voluntary agreements with private parties that include rent terms.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-39-60, private landlords in South Carolina are shielded from local rent control ordinances, meaning no county or city government can impose caps or other rent regulations on privately owned single-family homes, multi-unit residential buildings, or commercial rental properties. Compliant operators in South Carolina generally set rents according to market conditions and the terms of their lease agreements, without concern that a local ordinance will override those amounts. Landlords who participate in voluntary agreements with local governments or who lease government-owned property should be aware that those specific arrangements fall outside the preemption and may carry their own rent-related terms.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 27-39-60 of the South Carolina Code means that tenants renting privately owned housing in South Carolina do not have the protection of any local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance, because the state law prohibits counties and municipalities from enacting such measures. Tenants whose housing is owned or managed by a local government authority, or who live in a property covered by a voluntary agreement between a private landlord and a local government, may be in a different situation under the exceptions described in this provision. Tenants with questions about how this preemption affects their specific rental situation may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with South Carolina housing law.
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 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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