S.C. Code Ann. § 31-15-60
Service of complaints or orders; posting and filing copies
Operative Text
Complaints or orders issued by a public officer pursuant to an ordinance adopted under this article shall be served upon persons either personally or by registered mail, but if the whereabouts of such persons is unknown and cannot be ascertained by the public officer in the exercise of reasonable diligence and the public officer shall make an affidavit to that effect, then the serving of such complaint or order upon such persons may be made by publishing it once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper printed and published in the municipality or, in the absence of such newspaper, in one printed and published in the county and circulating in the municipality in which the dwellings are located. A copy of such complaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the complaint or order. A copy of such complaint or order shall also be filed with the clerk of the county in which the dwelling is located and such filing of the complaint or order shall have the same force and effect as other lis pendens notices provided by law.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 31-15-60, when a public officer issues a housing complaint or order under a municipal ordinance, it must be formally delivered to the affected persons—either in person or by registered mail. If the person's location cannot be found after reasonable effort, the officer may instead publish the notice in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks. In all cases, a copy must be posted visibly on the affected property and filed with the county clerk, where it carries the legal weight of a lis pendens notice, signaling a pending legal action tied to that property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a municipal housing ordinance should be aware that under § 31-15-60, a public officer's complaint or order can reach them through personal delivery, registered mail, or—if they cannot be located—newspaper publication. Maintaining a current, reachable mailing address with local authorities is a practice consistent with ensuring timely notice of any complaints or orders. Operators should also know that once a complaint or order is filed with the county clerk under this provision, it functions as a lis pendens, which can affect property title and transfer transactions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 31-15-60 establishes the formal process by which housing complaints or orders must be communicated, and tenants living in affected dwellings may notice a posted copy of any such order on the premises—this posting is legally required. The filing of the complaint or order with the county clerk under this provision creates a public record that can be searched, which may be useful when researching the legal status of a property. Tenants who believe a housing complaint or order has not been properly served or posted as required by § 31-15-60 may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what options may be available.
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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.