S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-240
Notice
Operative Text
(A) A person has notice of a fact if: (1) the person has actual knowledge of it; (2) the person has received a notice or notification of it; or (3) from all the facts and circumstances known to him at the time in question he has reason to know that it exists. A person "knows" or "has knowledge" of a fact if he has actual knowledge of it. (B) A person "notifies" or "gives" a notice or notification to another person by taking steps reasonably calculated to inform the other in ordinary course whether or not the other actually comes to know of it. A person "receives" a notice or notification when: (1) it comes to his attention; or (2) in the case of the landlord, it is delivered at the place of business of the landlord through which the rental agreement was made or at any place held out by the landlord as the place for receipt of the communication; or (3) in the case of the tenant, it is delivered in hand to the tenant or mailed by registered or certified mail to the tenant at the place held out by him as the place for receipt of the communication, or in the absence of the designation, to the tenant's last known place of residence. Proof of mailing pursuant to this subsection constitutes notice without proof of receipt. (C) "Notice", knowledge, or a notice or notification received by an organization is effective for a particular transaction from the time it is brought to the attention of the individual conducting that transaction, and in any event from the time it would have been brought to the individual's attention if the organization had exercised reasonable diligence. (D) The time within which an act is to be done must be computed by reference to South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.
Section 27-40-240 of the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act establishes what it means to have 'notice' of a fact and how notice is properly given or received in the landlord-tenant context. A person is considered to have notice if they have actual knowledge, have received a communication, or had enough information available to reasonably know something existed. Notice is considered 'received' by a landlord when it arrives at the business location where the rental agreement was made, and by a tenant when it is hand-delivered or sent by registered or certified mail to their designated or last known address — with proof of mailing alone being sufficient to establish notice, regardless of whether the tenant actually received it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-240, compliant landlords and property managers maintain a clearly designated place of business for receiving communications related to their rental agreements and ensure that address is communicated to tenants. When sending notices to tenants, operators generally use registered or certified mail to the tenant's designated or last known residence, since proof of mailing constitutes valid notice under this provision. Landlords managing properties through organizations should also ensure that relevant notices are promptly routed to the individual handling the specific transaction, since organizational notice is only effective once it reaches — or reasonably should have reached — that person.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 27-40-240 defines the rules that govern how notice works in South Carolina landlord-tenant relationships, which can affect a wide range of rights and obligations under the lease. Tenants benefit from knowing that a landlord's notice sent by registered or certified mail to their last known address is legally effective even if the tenant does not actually receive it, making it important to keep a current address on file with the landlord. If a tenant believes a notice was improperly given or that a landlord lacked actual knowledge of a relevant fact, that issue may be raised as part of a dispute; tenant-rights organizations in South Carolina can help explain how this provision interacts with other parts of the Act.
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.
Effective Timeline
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