Eviction Laws in Florence, South Carolina
Florence is the hub of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina and the county seat of Florence County, with a healthcare-anchored economy led by McLeod Health. It’s a traditional mid-sized SC city with a large cost-burdened renter population and one of the highest eviction filing rates in South Carolina — which itself has one of the highest eviction rates in the nation per Eviction Lab data.
Florence landlords benefit from the full force of South Carolina’s landlord-favorable eviction framework: 5-day nonpayment notice (or none at all with the statutory bold-text lease language), no deposit cap, and 24-hour post-judgment removal. In a high-volume filing market like Florence, eliminating the notice step through proper lease drafting is especially valuable. File at Florence County Magistrate’s Court and pay $50 total.
Florence & Florence County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. South Carolina has no statewide rent control and no statute permitting municipalities to enact it. Florence cannot cap rent increases. Landlords may raise rent with proper notice at lease renewal.
High-Volume Filing Market. Florence County Magistrate’s Court handles a high volume of ejectment filings relative to its size. Familiarity with local procedures, scheduling, and staff can meaningfully speed your process. The statutory lease language that eliminates the 5-day notice step is particularly valuable here.
Cost-Burdened Renter Base. Florence’s renter population is disproportionately cost-burdened — many households spend well over 30% of income on housing. This drives the elevated eviction filing rate. Income documentation and screening are critical before signing any lease.
Healthcare Economy. McLeod Health is Florence’s dominant employer and creates a more stable tier of healthcare-worker renters. Prioritizing applicants with verifiable, consistent employment in healthcare or established local employers meaningfully reduces default risk.
Florence County Magistrate’s Court — Where Florence Landlords File
All eviction (ejectment) filings for Florence properties are made at the Florence County Magistrate’s Court — 180 N Irby St, Florence, SC 29501, phone: (843) 665-3031. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.. File Form SCCA 732 (Application for Ejectment) and pay the $40 filing fee. The court will issue a Rule to Show Cause served on the tenant by a sheriff’s deputy; the tenant has 10 days to respond. If uncontested, a default Writ of Ejectment is issued. If contested, a hearing is scheduled — either party may request a jury trial. After judgment, the Writ of Ejectment is issued within 5 days; the tenant then has 24 hours to vacate after the Writ is posted. If they do not leave, contact the Florence County Sheriff’s Office to schedule a physical set-out. Do not change locks, remove belongings, or cut utilities before the Sheriff executes the Writ — self-help eviction is illegal under S.C. Code § 27-40-660 and exposes you to civil liability.
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