Eviction Laws in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Mount Pleasant is the fourth-largest city in South Carolina and one of Charleston County’s most affluent suburbs, situated across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from downtown Charleston. It has a lower eviction filing rate than much of the state, driven by higher household incomes and newer housing stock — but evictions do happen, and when they do, the same South Carolina law applies with the same speed and landlord-favorable terms.
Mount Pleasant landlords benefit fully from SC’s framework: 5-day nonpayment notice (or none with the statutory lease language), no deposit cap, and 24-hour removal after the Writ is posted. File at Charleston County Magistrate’s Court — confirm the specific magistrate office for your property’s ZIP code. In higher-income markets, lease violation and end-of-term disputes are proportionally more common than pure nonpayment cases.
Mount Pleasant & Charleston County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. South Carolina has no statewide rent control and no statute permitting municipalities to enact it. Mount Pleasant cannot cap rent increases. Landlords may raise rent with proper notice at lease renewal.
HOA-Heavy Communities. Mount Pleasant has a large concentration of HOA communities. If your tenant violates HOA rules, those violations can form grounds for a lease violation notice under the 14-day cure process — but only if your lease explicitly incorporates the HOA rules as lease obligations. Ensure this language is in every lease.
STR Regulations. Mount Pleasant enforces STR regulations for properties within town limits. Verify current licensing requirements if operating short-term rentals — these can change and non-compliance carries fines.
Affluent Market Screening. High-income markets still carry default risk, particularly from self-employed tenants, commission-based earners, and recent relocators. Income documentation and rental history verification remain essential even when applicants appear qualified.
Charleston County Magistrate’s Court — Where Mount Pleasant Landlords File
All eviction (ejectment) filings for Mount Pleasant properties are made at the Charleston County Magistrate’s Court (Mt Pleasant) — 3500 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC 29466, phone: (843) 884-8185. 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 Charleston 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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