Georgetown County sits between two of South Carolina’s largest coastal tourism markets — Horry County’s Grand Strand to the north and Charleston County to the south — and has been increasingly shaped by the population and investment pressure emanating from both. The county contains a striking range of residential environments: the historic city of Georgetown (one of the oldest port cities in America) with its antebellum streetscape and working waterfront; the barrier island and beach communities of Pawleys Island and Litchfield Beach, which are among the most refined and upscale coastal communities between Myrtle Beach and Charleston; the unincorporated beach and golf communities of Debordieu Colony and Litchfield; and the inland agricultural and rural areas centered on Andrews. This geographic and socioeconomic diversity makes Georgetown County one of South Carolina’s most complex rental markets to characterize in a single statement.
The coastal submarket — Pawleys Island, Litchfield, Murrells Inlet (which straddles the Horry/Georgetown county line) — operates at a dramatically higher price point than the city of Georgetown or the county’s inland communities. Vacation rental activity is significant along the coast and governed by the SC Vacation Rental Act rather than the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The city of Georgetown’s historic district has attracted retirees and lifestyle residents who have driven modest revitalization of its downtown and adjacent neighborhoods. Industrial employment from the former steel mill site and current waterfront operations provides a working-class demand base. All residential tenancies are governed by SC’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, with Georgetown County Magistrate Court handling Summary Ejectment.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Georgetown
Population
~62,000
Key Communities
Georgetown, Pawleys Island, Andrews, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach
Court System
Magistrate Court
Rent Control
None (state preemption)
Just-Cause Eviction
Not required
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
14-Day Notice to Cure
Filing Fee
~$80–$120
Court Type
Magistrate Court
Avg. Timeline
2–4 weeks
Statute
SC Code § 27-40-710
Georgetown County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rent Control
None. SC state preemption applies throughout Georgetown County including all coastal communities. No rent restrictions at any level.
Security Deposit Cap
No statutory cap. Coastal and Pawleys Island properties may support higher deposits consistent with elevated rents. Must return within 30 days with itemized accounting (SC Code § 27-40-530).
Coastal STR / Vacation Rental Law
Pawleys Island, Litchfield, and coastal Georgetown County have significant vacation rental activity. STRs are governed by the SC Vacation Rental Act (§ 27-50-210 et seq.), not the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Confirm tenancy type before applying any legal framework.
Georgetown Historic District
The City of Georgetown has an active historic preservation commission. Exterior modifications to rental properties in the historic district require review and approval before work begins. Verify requirements with the City before any renovation.
Coastal Habitability
SC Code § 27-40-410 applies. Coastal Georgetown County properties require attention to salt air corrosion, moisture/mold management, hurricane preparedness, and HVAC maintenance. Barrier island properties face elevated exposure.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited under SC law. Lock changes, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings are illegal. Summary Ejectment through Georgetown County Magistrate Court is the only lawful remedy.
Source of Income
No state or local requirement to accept housing vouchers in Georgetown County.
Retaliatory Eviction
Prohibited. Courts may presume retaliation if eviction follows within 90 days of a documented habitability complaint.
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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).
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Magistrate Court. Pay the filing fee (~$40).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
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.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Cities & Screening Tips
Key markets: Georgetown (city), Pawleys Island, Andrews, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, Debordieu Colony.
Pawleys Island / coastal: Long-term residential leases at the coast attract retirees and remote workers. Clearly distinguish residential tenancy from vacation rental in your lease documentation — the legal framework differs significantly.
Georgetown city: Healthcare, waterfront industry, and retiree tenants are the primary stable demand segments. Verify income carefully for retirees — fixed income (Social Security, pension, investment withdrawal) can qualify at the appropriate ratio but requires different documentation than W-2 income.
Georgetown County Landlord Guide: Pawleys Island, Historic Georgetown, and SC Eviction Law
Georgetown County is one of South Carolina’s most geographically and economically layered counties — a place where the refined coastal communities of Pawleys Island and Litchfield Beach exist in the same county as the working-class neighborhoods of historic Georgetown and the agricultural communities of Andrews. Managing rentals here requires understanding which submarket a given property occupies and which legal framework applies to its occupancy, because the answers are meaningfully different for a coastal vacation-capable property versus a Georgetown city residential unit. The SC Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and the SC Vacation Rental Act represent distinct legal universes with different tenant rights and different landlord remedies.
The Residential vs. Vacation Rental Distinction on the Coast
Georgetown County’s coastal communities — Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, Garden City Beach, and areas near Murrells Inlet — have extensive vacation rental activity through Airbnb, VRBO, and traditional rental management companies. Short-term vacation rentals in these areas are governed by the SC Vacation Rental Act (§ 27-50-210 et seq.), which treats vacation rental occupants differently from residential tenants. The Vacation Rental Act provides different notice requirements, different deposit handling rules, and different removal procedures. A property owner who uses a residential lease for a vacation rental guest — or who attempts to convert a long-term residential tenant into a vacation rental occupant by simply changing the booking platform — is applying the wrong legal framework and may face liability for the mismatch. The determinative factor is the nature of the occupancy: a tenant living at a property as their primary or secondary residence is a residential tenant regardless of how the booking was arranged.
Eviction Law at Georgetown County Magistrate Court
For residential tenancies, the SC statutory eviction framework applies without local modification. 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 Georgetown County Magistrate Court. Hearings are scheduled within 10 days and Writs of Ejectment are enforced by the Georgetown County Sheriff. Lease violation evictions require 14-day cure periods under SC Code § 27-40-720. Self-help eviction — changing locks, cutting utilities, removing tenant belongings — is illegal under SC law regardless of the tenant’s conduct, and generates civil liability that can dwarf the cost of a properly conducted eviction.
The Historic Georgetown City Market
The city of Georgetown — South Carolina’s third-oldest city — has undergone a modest but genuine revitalization of its historic downtown waterfront district, attracting retirees, remote workers, and lifestyle residents who value the city’s preserved antebellum architecture, active arts community, and waterfront access at dramatically lower costs than comparable Lowcountry destinations. This demographic is driving gradual improvement in the quality and diversity of Georgetown’s rental market. Healthcare employment from Georgetown Hospital System (now part of a regional health network) and waterfront industry employment provide the working-class and professional workforce demand base. The city’s historic preservation commission maintains active oversight of the historic district — landlords with historic district properties must understand exterior modification requirements before undertaking any renovation work.
Coastal Habitability and Maintenance Obligations
SC Code § 27-40-410’s habitability requirements apply fully to residential properties in Georgetown County’s coastal communities. Waterfront and near-water properties face elevated maintenance demands: salt air accelerates corrosion of HVAC systems, exterior fixtures, and structural elements; coastal humidity drives mold risk; and tropical weather exposure requires attention to roof integrity, storm shutters, and drainage. Annual HVAC service, regular moisture inspection, and proactive exterior maintenance are minimum practices for coastal residential landlords. These are not optional upgrades — they are the operational requirements of maintaining habitable property in a coastal South Carolina climate. A residential tenant who documents a failed air conditioning unit in July or mold growth visible in a bathroom has created a habitability record that can undermine any subsequent eviction proceeding.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances. For questions about a specific eviction, lease dispute, or compliance matter, consult a licensed South Carolina attorney or contact Georgetown County Magistrate Court directly. Last updated: March 2026.
