Eviction Laws in Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter sits in the heart of South Carolina’s Midlands region, about 45 miles east of Columbia, and serves as the county seat of Sumter County. The city’s population hovers around 43,000 residents, making it the 10th largest city in the state. What sets Sumter apart from most mid-sized South Carolina cities is the enormous presence of Shaw Air Force Base, which sits just west of the city limits and serves as headquarters for the U.S. Air Force’s Ninth Air Force and U.S. Army Central Command. Shaw employs thousands of active-duty military personnel, civilian contractors, and Department of Defense workers — and the vast majority of those people rent. That military pipeline creates a rental market unlike almost anywhere else in the state: steady demand, predictable turnover cycles tied to PCS (permanent change of station) orders, and tenants who generally maintain properties well because base housing inspections set the standard.
The civilian economy adds another layer. Sumter County’s manufacturing sector includes Continental Tire (one of the largest tire plants in North America), BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) medical devices, and Kaydon Corporation. Healthcare employment through Prisma Health Tuomey hospital rounds out the major employers. Median household income sits at roughly $55,592 as of 2024, below the state average but reflective of the military-heavy demographics where base housing allowances supplement reported income. Median rents run between $1,055 and $1,195 depending on unit type and source, and median home values hover around $160,000–$199,000, giving investors some of the best rent-to-price ratios in the state. The rental population is substantial — about 44% of Sumter households are renter-occupied, driven by military families, young workers at the manufacturing plants, and students at Central Carolina Technical College and the University of South Carolina–Sumter campus.
South Carolina’s landlord-tenant framework applies fully in Sumter. The 5-day nonpayment notice (or no notice at all if you include the statutory lease language under S.C. Code § 27-40-710(B)), no security deposit cap, and 24-hour post-judgment removal all apply. Sumter has no rent control, no mandatory rental registration, and no local tenant protections beyond state law. The Sumter County Magistrate’s Court handles all residential eviction filings at 115 North Harvin Street in downtown Sumter. The court also operates satellite offices in Mayesville and Pinewood for properties in those areas of the county.
Sumter & Sumter County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. South Carolina has no statewide rent control and no statute permitting municipalities to enact it. Sumter cannot cap rent increases. Landlords may raise rent with proper notice at lease renewal.
Military tenants — SCRA compliance is critical. With Shaw AFB generating a large share of Sumter’s rental demand, landlords here encounter the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) more frequently than almost anywhere else in the state. Under the SCRA, active-duty military tenants who receive PCS orders, deployment orders, or are called to active duty for more than 90 days may terminate a lease with 30 days’ written notice regardless of the lease term. Landlords cannot charge early termination fees in these situations. The SCRA also caps the interest rate on pre-service debts at 6% and requires a court order before a default judgment can be entered against a servicemember. If you rent near Shaw, build SCRA compliance into your lease template and your screening workflow. Attempting to enforce early termination penalties against a PCS’d tenant will lose in court every time and may trigger federal scrutiny.
No mandatory rental registration. Neither the City of Sumter nor Sumter County requires landlords to register residential rental properties. There is no proactive rental inspection program — code enforcement operates on a complaint basis only.
Sumter County has its own eviction forms. While most South Carolina counties use the statewide Form SCCA 732 (Application for Ejectment), Sumter County’s Clerk of Court provides its own set of locally-numbered eviction forms. These include a Complaint for Eviction Damages (Form 5-5A), Complaint for Failure to Comply with Lease (Form 6), Eviction Summons — Residential (Form 7), Summons Action for Back Rent and Damages (Form 8), Final Judgment Eviction (Form 9), Final Judgment Damages (Form 10), and Writ of Possession (Form 11). These are available at sumterclerk.com. Using the correct local forms can speed up processing. However, the statewide SCCA 732 is also accepted.
44% renter-occupied market. Nearly half of all Sumter households rent rather than own, one of the higher renter ratios among South Carolina cities of this size. This creates strong demand but also means the Magistrate’s Court sees a high volume of landlord-tenant cases. Expect some docket congestion, particularly in the first two weeks of each month when most nonpayment notices have expired and landlords file simultaneously.
No local STR ordinance. The City of Sumter has not enacted short-term rental legislation. Airbnb and VRBO properties operate under South Carolina’s statewide framework only. Hosts must collect and remit state (6%) and local accommodations taxes.
Sumter County Magistrate’s Court — Where Sumter Landlords File
Sumter eviction cases are filed at the Sumter County Magistrate’s Court — City/County Office Building, 115 North Harvin Street, Sumter, SC 29150. File Form SCCA 732 (Application for Ejectment) or use Sumter County’s local eviction forms available at sumterclerk.com, and pay the $40 filing fee. The court issues a Rule to Show Cause served on the tenant by the Sumter 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 Sumter). 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. 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. The county also operates satellite Magistrate’s Courts in Mayesville (South Main Street) and Pinewood (16 Clark Street) for properties in those areas. An additional court office is located at 190 East Canal Street, Sumter, SC 29150. Call ahead to confirm which location handles your filing based on the property’s address within the county.
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