S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-520
Rules and regulations
Operative Text
(a) A landlord, from time to time, may adopt rules or regulations, however described, concerning the tenant's use and occupancy of the premises. They are enforceable against the tenant only if: (1) their purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants in the premises, preserve the landlord's property from abusive use, or make a fair distribution of services and facilities held out for the tenants generally; (2) they are reasonably related to the purpose for which they are adopted; (3) they apply to all tenants in the premises in a fair manner; (4) they are sufficiently explicit in their prohibition, direction, or limitation of the tenant's conduct to fairly inform him of what he must or must not do to comply; (5) they are not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord; (6) the tenant has notice of them at the time he enters into the rental agreement, or when they are adopted. (b) Rules or regulations adopted after a tenant enters into a rental agreement are not valid as to such tenant if the rules or regulations substantially modify the tenant's bargain and after receiving notice upon adoption of his right to object, the tenant objects in writing to the landlord within thirty days after promulgation.
Section 27-40-520 of the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs when a landlord's rules and regulations are legally binding on tenants. A rule is only enforceable if it serves a legitimate purpose—such as safety, property preservation, or fair distribution of services—applies fairly to all tenants, is clearly written, and is not designed to help the landlord dodge its own obligations. Additionally, any rule adopted after a tenant has already signed a lease cannot be enforced against that tenant if it substantially changes the terms of their agreement and the tenant submits a written objection within thirty days of being notified of the new rule.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-520 generally ensure that any house rules or community policies meet each of the statute's six enforceability criteria—legitimate purpose, reasonable relation to that purpose, fair application across all tenants, clear and explicit language, good faith, and proper notice. Rules provided at lease signing are typically incorporated into the rental agreement, while rules adopted mid-tenancy require prompt written notice to existing tenants that includes information about their right to object. When a mid-tenancy rule substantially changes the nature of the rental bargain, compliant operators account for the possibility that an objecting tenant may not be bound by that rule.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-520, tenants in South Carolina have the right to challenge rules or regulations that fail to meet the law's enforceability standards—for example, rules that are vague, applied unfairly, or appear designed to help the landlord avoid its own duties. If a landlord introduces a new rule after a lease is already in place and that rule substantially changes the terms of the rental arrangement, a tenant who submits a written objection to the landlord within thirty days of receiving notice may not be bound by it. Tenants who believe a rule violates this provision may consider raising it as a defense in any related proceeding, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or consulting a licensed attorney familiar with South Carolina landlord-tenant 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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