Eviction Laws in Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is Berkeley County’s largest city and a key node in the greater Charleston metro, home to the Naval Weapons Station Charleston. Active-duty sailors, civilian defense contractors, and their families make up a substantial share of the renter population — creating a stable but SCRA-aware rental market that every Goose Creek landlord must understand.
South Carolina’s eviction framework fully applies in Goose Creek: 5-day nonpayment notice (or none with the statutory lease language), no deposit cap, and 24-hour removal after the Writ of Ejectment is posted. File at Berkeley County Magistrate’s Court. Berkeley County routes filings by property area — confirm the correct magistrate office for your address before filing Form SCCA 732.
Goose Creek & Berkeley County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. South Carolina has no statewide rent control and no statute permitting municipalities to enact it. Goose Creek cannot cap rent increases. Landlords may raise rent with proper notice at lease renewal.
SCRA — Naval Weapons Station. Goose Creek’s Naval Weapons Station population makes SCRA compliance a daily operational reality, not an edge case. Use the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) online verification tool to check active-duty status before initiating any eviction. Active-duty tenants with PCS or deployment orders can terminate with 30 days notice — this right cannot be waived by lease.
PCS Cycle Turnover. Military tenant turnover spikes around PCS season (typically June–August). Build vacancy expectations around this cycle. SCRA early terminations during PCS season are legal and cannot be contested — plan accordingly with lease renewal timing.
Berkeley County Growth. Berkeley County is growing rapidly alongside the broader Charleston metro. New residential developments may fall under different magistrate district jurisdictions than older Goose Creek areas. Always verify the correct filing location.
Berkeley County Magistrate’s Court — Where Goose Creek Landlords File
All eviction (ejectment) filings for Goose Creek properties are made at the Berkeley County Magistrate’s Court — 300 California Ave, Goose Creek, SC 29445, phone: (843) 764-2100. 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 Berkeley 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.
|
