Colleton County Landlord-Tenant Law

South Carolina landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Colleton County Rental Market Overview

Colleton County is defined by its extraordinary natural landscape — the ACE Basin (Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers), one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast of the United States, covers much of the county’s southern reaches and has made Colleton a significant destination for ecotourism, hunting, fishing, and conservation-oriented rural real estate. The county seat of Walterboro, known as the “Front Porch of the Lowcountry,” is a genuine small city of around 5,500 residents with a charming historic core, active community life, and a local economy anchored by healthcare (Colleton Medical Center), education, government, and the I-95 interchange commerce that Walterboro’s position on the interstate supports. The 2023 Alex Murdaugh trial — held in Walterboro and followed nationally — put the city on the map for a different reason, but the underlying community character predates and will outlast that notoriety.

The rental market in Colleton County is primarily concentrated in Walterboro and the smaller communities of Smoaks and Lodge. Rents are moderate by Lowcountry standards — significantly lower than nearby Beaufort or Charleston counties — and the tenant base is a mix of healthcare and public sector workers, manufacturing employees, and lower-income households with limited alternatives. The ACE Basin’s conservation land limits residential development potential in the county’s rural southern areas, which means Walterboro’s limited housing stock absorbs most of the county’s rental demand. All residential tenancies are governed by South Carolina’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, with Colleton County Magistrate Court handling Summary Ejectment proceedings.

Colleton County Ordinances & Local Rules

South Carolina State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

5

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

14

Days Notice (Violation)

21-40

Avg Total Days

$40

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 5-Day Demand for Rent

Notice Period 5 days

Tenant Can Cure? Yes

Days to Hearing 7-14 days

Days to Writ 5-10 days

Total Estimated Timeline 21-40 days

Total Estimated Cost $80-$250

⚠️ Watch Out

Landlord must give 5-day written notice before filing. Tenant can cure by paying full amount within 5 days. If tenant pays after filing but before judgment, case may be dismissed. Base filing fee is $40 for Rule to Show Cause, plus a $25 mandatory court surcharge per SC Stat. §22-3-340, bringing practical minimum to $65. Writ of Ejectment costs an additional $10. Filing fees may vary by county ($40-$75 range reported).

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

Underground Landlord

📝 South Carolina Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the Magistrate Court. Pay the filing fee (~$40).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about South Carolina eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice. Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections. For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified South Carolina attorney or local legal aid organization.

🐛 See an error on this page? Let us know

Underground Landlord

🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease: South Carolina landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding tenant screening in South Carolina — including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need South Carolina's eviction process, proper tenant screening can help you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.

Ready to File?

Generate South Carolina-Compliant Legal Documents

AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to South Carolina requirements.

Generate a Document →

View AI Hub →

Colleton County Landlord Guide: Walterboro, the ACE Basin, and SC Eviction Law

Colleton County’s identity is bound up in the natural splendor of the ACE Basin and the quiet historic character of Walterboro, a small city that has maintained its Lowcountry grace through decades of economic change. For landlords, the county offers a compact, manageable rental market centered almost entirely on Walterboro, with a tenant base that includes healthcare workers, teachers, public sector employees, and working-class households for whom Colleton County’s relative affordability is the decisive factor in their housing choices. The legal framework — South Carolina’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, administered through Colleton County Magistrate Court — is identical to every other county in the state.

The Eviction Process in Colleton County

Nonpayment evictions begin with a written 5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate under SC Code § 27-40-710. After five days, Summary Ejectment is filed at Colleton County Magistrate Court in Walterboro. Hearing scheduling in a low-volume court is typically efficient, and the two-to-four-week total timeline is achievable. A Writ of Ejectment, if obtained, is enforced by the Colleton County Sheriff. Lease violation evictions require 14 days to cure under SC Code § 27-40-720. Self-help eviction — lock changes, utility shutoffs, removing belongings — is prohibited and creates civil liability regardless of how clearly the tenant is in default.

Walterboro’s Healthcare and Public Sector Tenant Base

Colleton Medical Center is Walterboro’s largest private employer and anchors a healthcare employment sector that provides stable, professional-income tenants for Colleton County landlords with quality properties. Nursing staff, medical technologists, administrative personnel, and affiliated clinic workers represent a low-risk tenant profile — professional credentials, steady income, and a tendency toward longer tenure in positions that anchor them to the community. For landlords with updated, well-maintained properties in Walterboro’s more desirable residential neighborhoods, specifically marketing to the healthcare sector is a viable strategy that produces reliable tenants at the higher end of the local rent range. Verify professional licensure (easily confirmed through SC DHEC’s license verification tools) and employment status at application.

Lowcountry Habitability Obligations

Colleton County’s position deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry means landlords face the habitability maintenance challenges common to all coastal and near-coastal SC counties: high humidity driving mold risk, summer heat requiring reliable HVAC, and periodic tropical weather systems creating wind and water damage exposure. SC Code § 27-40-410’s requirement to maintain fit and habitable premises applies here fully. HVAC maintenance is not optional in Colleton County — a cooling system that fails in August is a genuine habitability issue that a tenant can document and raise as a defense in any subsequent eviction proceeding. Annual HVAC service contracts, regular gutter and roof inspection, and prompt attention to moisture intrusion are the minimum maintenance practices for responsible Colleton County property ownership. Proactive maintenance also protects the property’s long-term value in a climate that is harder on buildings than the US average.

Walterboro Historic District Properties

Walterboro’s historic district contains some of the most architecturally significant residential properties in the SC Lowcountry interior — antebellum and early twentieth century homes that give the city its “Front Porch of the Lowcountry” character. Landlords who own or are considering acquiring historic district rental properties should understand that exterior modifications — including window replacement, siding changes, porch alterations, and some structural modifications — may require review and approval under the city’s historic preservation ordinance before work begins. This is not a landlord-tenant law issue, but it is a material property management reality: unpermitted modifications to historic district properties can result in remediation requirements and fines that significantly exceed the cost of obtaining advance approval. Consult the City of Walterboro’s planning department before any exterior work on historic district rentals.