Eviction Laws in Hanahan, South Carolina
Hanahan is a compact, well-positioned city in Berkeley County that sits directly between Charleston and North Charleston, straddling the county line at the very southern tip of Berkeley County. With a population of approximately 22,700, Hanahan has grown over 10% since the 2020 Census and functions as one of the Charleston metro’s most accessible suburban markets for families and military-connected renters. The city is perhaps best known for hosting a significant portion of Joint Base Charleston — specifically the Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Charleston, including the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command and the Naval Consolidated Brig. This military presence is the defining feature of Hanahan’s rental market.
The rental market in Hanahan reflects its dual identity as both a military-adjacent community and a Charleston commuter suburb. About 32% of households are renter-occupied, and the median gross rent is approximately $1,324, with apartment rents averaging higher. The bulk of rentals (48%) fall in the $1,000–$1,500 range, making Hanahan more affordable than Charleston proper but slightly above neighboring Goose Creek. Two-bedroom units dominate the market at 53% of rental stock. The median household income is $87,984, the highest of any city in this batch, and per capita income is $61,460 — reflecting the combination of military officer pay, defense contractor salaries, and Charleston-area professional incomes. The poverty rate is about 11.7%, and the median age is 36.6 years.
Hanahan’s population is roughly 72% White, 11% Black, 5% Asian, and 5% other races, with a notable diversity driven by the military community. About 43% of households include children under 18, and the median renter household size is 2.74 — larger than many SC suburban markets, reflecting the family-heavy military tenant base. Neighborhoods like Tanner Plantation and Otranto are popular with families, offering newer construction and community amenities. The median home value is approximately $374,800, and property taxes average just 0.53% of assessed value.
South Carolina’s landlord-tenant framework applies fully in Hanahan. The 5-day nonpayment notice (or no notice with the statutory lease language under S.C. Code § 27-40-710(B)), no security deposit cap, and 24-hour post-judgment removal all apply. Hanahan has no rent control, no mandatory rental registration, and no local tenant protections beyond state law. Eviction filings go through the Berkeley County Magistrate system, with Hanahan’s own magistrate court on Yeamans Hall Road.
Hanahan & 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. Hanahan cannot cap rent increases. Landlords may raise rent with proper notice at lease renewal.
Hanahan has its own magistrate court. Unlike many small SC cities that must file at a county-level court in a different town, Hanahan has a dedicated Berkeley County Magistrate Court right in the city at 1255 Yeamans Hall Road, Hanahan, SC 29410. Chief Judge M.V. Revelise and Associate Judge Mary A. Vosburgh preside. This is a significant convenience — landlords don’t need to drive to Moncks Corner (the Berkeley County seat, about 30 miles north) to file eviction paperwork. Other Berkeley County magistrate locations include Goose Creek (653 Red Bank Road), Moncks Corner (223 North Live Oak Drive), and St. Stephen (137 Hood Street).
Joint Base Charleston — Naval Weapons Station tenants. The Naval Weapons Station portion of Joint Base Charleston is partially within Hanahan’s city limits. The base hosts the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (where sailors and officers train to operate nuclear reactors on submarines and aircraft carriers), making it one of the Navy’s most important training installations. Military tenants on training assignments typically rent for 6–24 months depending on their program length. These are short-cycle, high-quality tenants: they receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing), have verified employment, and maintain security clearances. However, the SCRA allows them to terminate leases early with PCS or deployment orders, so plan for higher turnover than a typical civilian market.
SCRA compliance. As with Beaufort and Goose Creek, Hanahan landlords must comply with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act when dealing with active-duty tenants. Verify active-duty status through scra.dmdc.osd.mil before any eviction filing. Military tenants can break leases with 30 days’ notice upon receiving PCS orders. Courts may stay eviction proceedings against active-duty service members. BAH-backed rent payments are reliable, but SCRA protections apply regardless.
Charleston metro commuter market. Hanahan’s location between downtown Charleston (10 miles south via I-26) and North Charleston makes it attractive to civilians working across the metro area. Boeing, the Medical University of South Carolina, Volvo, and the Port of Charleston are all within commuting distance. The ownership-to-rent gap in the Charleston metro is massive — it takes roughly $111,000 in annual income to buy a typical home versus $77,000 to rent comfortably — which pushes would-be buyers into the rental market and sustains strong long-term demand in affordable suburbs like Hanahan.
Tanner Plantation and newer subdivisions. Hanahan’s Tanner Plantation is one of the largest master-planned communities in the area, with newer homes, community pools, playgrounds, and HOA-managed common areas. Single-family rentals in Tanner Plantation and similar neighborhoods command premium rents but come with HOA requirements that landlords must follow — including exterior maintenance standards, parking rules, and sometimes rental restrictions or caps. Verify HOA rental policies before purchasing investment property in these communities.
Low property taxes. Berkeley County property taxes average just 0.53% of assessed value, among the lowest in the Charleston metro and well below the national average. This helps landlord cash flow, particularly on single-family rental properties where the tax burden directly impacts net operating income.
No mandatory rental registration. Neither the City of Hanahan nor Berkeley County requires landlords to register rental properties. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. There is no proactive rental inspection program.
No local STR ordinance. The City of Hanahan has not enacted short-term rental legislation beyond state requirements. Airbnb and VRBO properties operate under South Carolina’s statewide framework. Hosts must collect and remit state (6%) and local accommodations taxes.
Berkeley County Magistrate’s Court — Where Hanahan Landlords File
Hanahan eviction cases are filed at the Hanahan Magistrate Court — 1255 Yeamans Hall Road, Hanahan, SC 29410. Chief Judge M.V. Revelise presides. File Form SCCA 732 (Application for Ejectment) and pay the $40 filing fee. The court issues a Rule to Show Cause served on the tenant by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. If served in person, the tenant has 10 days to respond; if posted on the door, the tenant has 20 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 (rare in Berkeley County). After judgment, the Writ of Ejectment is issued; the tenant has 24 hours to vacate after the Writ is posted. If they do not leave, contact the Sheriff’s Office to schedule a physical set-out. For military tenants, verify active-duty status through the SCRA website before proceeding. 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.
|
