🏠 SOUTH CAROLINA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in South Carolina
In South Carolina, S.C. Code § 27-40-410 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of what was withheld.
South Carolina sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. If the landlord does not comply, you can recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(b)).
The South Carolina statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ S.C. Code § 27-40-410
On termination of the tenancy, money held as security must be returned less amounts withheld for accrued rent and damages from the tenant’s noncompliance with § 27-40-510. Any deduction must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice to the tenant, together with any amount due, within 30 days. South Carolina sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Verified against primary statute text (scstatehouse.gov) 2026-08-26.
Read the South Carolina source text →South Carolina deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What South Carolina requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | No statutory limit |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | If the landlord does not comply, you can recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(b)). |
| Governing statute | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 |
Every figure here was read from the South Carolina statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in South Carolina
The 30 days clock in South CarolinaS.C. Code § 27-40-410 sets South Carolina's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy.
South Carolina does not cap the depositSouth Carolina sets no statutory ceiling on the deposit amount, so the lease controls how much you can be charged. The return deadline and itemization rules in S.C. Code § 27-40-410 still apply in full.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in South Carolina requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in South CarolinaIf the landlord does not comply, you can recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(b)). Whether a remedy applies can turn on the dates, so keep proof of the day you moved out and the day you gave a forwarding address.
What to do in South Carolina, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in South Carolina the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing S.C. Code § 27-40-410 and the remedy described above.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, South Carolina small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — ask for the deposit and any amount the statute allows on top of it.
Common questions about security deposits in South Carolina
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in South Carolina?
S.C. Code § 27-40-410 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld.
What happens if my South Carolina landlord misses the deadline?
If the landlord does not comply, you can recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(b)). You generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in South Carolina?
South Carolina sets no statutory maximum, so the amount is whatever the lease sets. The deadline and itemization requirements in S.C. Code § 27-40-410 still apply regardless of size.
Can my South Carolina landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.