South Carolina Landlord-Tenant Law 2026: Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach Rent Control Guide

1. South Carolina SCRLTA Legal Framework — 1986 URLTA-Based Statute

South Carolina’s landlord-tenant relationship is governed statewide by the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (SCRLTA), codified at S.C. Code Ann. §§27-40-10 through 27-40-940 (Act 310 of 1986). The SCRLTA is an adaptation of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) model code developed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1972. South Carolina adopted the URLTA framework in 1986, making it one of approximately 22 states to adopt URLTA-based landlord-tenant statutes (alongside Virginia with its VRLTA in 1974, Iowa with its RLTA in 1978, Kansas with its RLTA in 1975, Nebraska with its NLTA in 1974, and others).

The SCRLTA applies to all residential rental agreements in South Carolina except owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units if the owner resides in one of the units, single-family residences where the landlord has notified the tenant in writing that the SCRLTA does not apply, and certain institutional and transitional housing situations. For the vast majority of South Carolina landlords — including all landlords in Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach with properties of five or more units — the SCRLTA governs all material aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship.

Key SCRLTA Provisions at a Glance

South Carolina’s URLTA adoption in 1986 occurred the same year that North Carolina enacted NCGS §42-14.1, its explicit rent-control preemption statute prohibiting any North Carolina city from regulating rents. The contrast is instructive: North Carolina affirmatively prohibited local rent control in 1987; South Carolina adopted a URLTA tenant-protection framework without addressing rent control in either direction — an approach that left the question legally unanswered but practically dormant, since no SC municipality has ever attempted to regulate rents.

2. No Rent Control in South Carolina — No Preemption, No Ordinances

South Carolina has no rent control in 2026. This statement is true in two independent dimensions that are worth distinguishing:

No active local rent control. The city councils of Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Hilton Head Island, Florence, Aiken, Sumter, or any other South Carolina municipality have never enacted a rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. South Carolina has a long tradition of private property rights and limited local regulation of residential tenancies; the prospect of rent control has not reached serious legislative consideration in any SC city as of 2026.

No statewide preemption statute. Unlike Texas (LGC §214.902, 1981), Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. §66.1015, 1981), Michigan (MCL §123.409, 1988), Illinois (765 ILCS 720, 1997), Tennessee (T.C.A. §66-35-102, 2014), Missouri (RSMo §441.043, 2021), and Kansas (K.S.A. §12-16,130, 2021), the South Carolina General Assembly has never enacted an express statute prohibiting local rent control. South Carolina achieves the same practical outcome — zero rent control statewide — not through a preemption statute but through the combination of (a) home rule powers that do not expressly authorize rent control and (b) the complete absence of any local legislative effort to enact it.

This distinguishes South Carolina from states like Maryland and New Jersey, which also lack statewide preemption statutes but where municipalities have actively exercised their home rule authority to enact rent stabilization (Maryland: Takoma Park since 1981 and Montgomery County since October 2024; New Jersey: approximately 100+ municipalities). South Carolina’s home rule framework under S.C. Const. Art. VIII exists, but the political and economic context — including the presence of BMW, Boeing, Michelin, and a large US military footprint — has produced a business-friendly environment where rent control has never been seriously proposed.

South Carolina vs. Neighboring and Peer States: Rent Control Status

3. Security Deposit Law: No Cap, 30-Day Return, Mandatory Itemization

South Carolina’s security deposit provisions are found in SCRLTA §27-40-410. The most distinctive feature of South Carolina deposit law is what it lacks: unlike most URLTA-adopting states, the SCRLTA imposes no statutory maximum on the amount of a security deposit. A South Carolina landlord may negotiate any deposit amount in the lease agreement, whether that is one month’s rent, two months’ rent, or any other sum. This positions South Carolina alongside Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Georgia as states without a statutory deposit ceiling.

The 30-day return deadline is single-trigger in South Carolina: the clock starts when the tenancy ends and the tenant has vacated. The landlord must either return the full deposit or mail an itemized written statement of deductions (with any remaining balance) to the tenant’s last known address within 30 days. Failure to comply within 30 days, or failure to provide an adequate itemized statement, may forfeit the landlord’s right to retain deducted amounts and expose the landlord to liability for the wrongfully withheld sum plus court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

Security Deposit Return Deadlines: South Carolina vs. Peer States

South Carolina does not require landlords to hold deposits in a separate escrow or trust account — a notable contrast to Florida (which mandates specific holding arrangements) and Maryland (which requires an interest-bearing account for deposits over $50). SC landlords may commingle deposits with operating funds if permitted by the lease, though best practice is a separate account to avoid accidental spending of the tenant’s funds.

Normal wear and tear is non-deductible under SCRLTA, as in all URLTA-adopting states. Permitted deductions include: unpaid rent, physical damages beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges expressly authorized in the lease (such as cleaning fees if the unit is left in worse-than-ordinary condition). Cosmetic wear, minor carpet wear from ordinary foot traffic, and faded paint from sunlight are classic examples of normal wear and tear that may not be deducted.

4. Eviction Notice: 5-Day Pay-or-Remedy With Mandatory Cure Right

South Carolina’s non-payment eviction process begins with a 5-day written notice under SCRLTA §27-40-710. The notice must inform the tenant that rent is unpaid and that the tenant has 5 days to pay the full amount due or the landlord will terminate the rental agreement. The critical element is the mandatory cure right: if the tenant pays in full within the 5-day period, the landlord may not proceed with termination — the cure extinguishes the default and the tenancy continues on its existing terms.

This mandatory cure right distinguishes South Carolina from several peer states with no-cure notice regimes:

Non-Payment Notice: South Carolina vs. Peer States

After the 5-day cure period, if rent remains unpaid and the tenant has not vacated, the landlord files an ejectment action in the magistrate court of the county where the property is located. South Carolina’s magistrate courts handle the vast majority of residential eviction proceedings. There is no mandatory pre-filing notice period beyond the 5-day statutory notice; the landlord may file on day 6 if the default persists. The magistrate court schedules a hearing typically within 10–21 calendar days of filing. If the magistrate rules for the landlord, a writ of ejectment issues, authorizing the county sheriff or constable to remove the tenant if the tenant does not vacate voluntarily.

Self-help evictions — changing locks, removing a tenant’s personal property, shutting off utilities, or any other act designed to compel a tenant to leave without a court order — are prohibited under SCRLTA §27-40-750 and expose the landlord to a claim for actual and consequential damages, plus attorney’s fees. SC landlords must proceed through magistrate court regardless of the circumstances.

Relevant magistrate court venues:

• Greenville: Greenville County Magistrate Court, 301 University Ridge, Greenville, SC 29601
• Columbia: Richland County Magistrate Court, 5 Richland County Square, Columbia, SC 29201
• Charleston: Charleston County Magistrate Court, 100 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Myrtle Beach: Horry County Magistrate Court, 1301 Second Ave, Conway, SC 29526

5. Greenville, SC — BMW, Michelin, Prisma Health, GE Vernova

Greenville is South Carolina’s largest city by economic output and the core of the Upstate South Carolina manufacturing corridor — one of the most significant automotive and advanced manufacturing clusters in the United States. The Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin Metropolitan Statistical Area (Greenville MSA) had approximately 950,000–1,000,000 residents as of 2026, anchored by four Fortune 500 or global-headquarters-level employers within commuting distance. For a detailed analysis of Greenville rent trajectories and neighborhood-level data, see our Greenville SC rent increase 2026 guide.

BMW Manufacturing — BMW’s Largest Global Plant, Only North American BMW Plant

BMW Manufacturing Co. LLC (1 BMW Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303; Greer community, Spartanburg County; approximately 15–20 miles northeast of downtown Greenville via I-85 N or US-29) is the global anchor of Upstate South Carolina’s economy and the single most important driver of the Greenville premium rental market. Three superlatives define the plant’s role:

• BMW Group’s largest manufacturing plant in the world by vehicle volume. The Spartanburg facility produces more vehicles annually than any other BMW Group plant globally — exceeding plants in Munich, Dingolfing, Leipzig, and Regensburg in unit output (primarily X-series SUVs).
• Only BMW car manufacturing plant in North America. All BMW passenger vehicles sold in North America that are assembled in the Western Hemisphere come from this single facility. The plant has operated since September 1994 (32 consecutive years as of 2026).
• Most exported US vehicle manufacturing facility by value. Since approximately 2018, the Spartanburg plant has shipped more dollar value in vehicle exports than any other US automotive assembly site, primarily through the Port of Charleston’s Wando Welch Terminal (~$9–12B annually at BMW’s average transaction value; approximately 60–70% of production is exported).

Current production (2026): BMW X3/X3M, X4/X4M, X5/X5M, X6/X6M, X7, and XM (BMW’s flagship M performance model, priced from $159,000, introduced 2023). Total direct employment: approximately 11,000 associates. Supply chain footprint: 300+ first- and second-tier suppliers across the Upstate with approximately 40,000–50,000 regional supply chain employees (Magna Seating, ZF Group, Autoliv, Dräxlmaier, Bosch Rexroth, Schaeffler, Continental, Honeywell Aerospace Charlotte-adjacent).

BMW’s announced $1.7B investment in Spartanburg for electrification — including a $700M high-voltage battery assembly facility in Woodruff, SC (Spartanburg County) — confirms a long-term commitment to the Upstate South Carolina manufacturing footprint that is bullish for the Greenville rental market through at least the late 2030s.

Michelin North America HQ — 45+ Consecutive Years, World’s 2nd Largest Tire Maker

Michelin North America, Inc. (One Parkway South, Greenville, SC 29615) has headquartered its North American operations in Greenville since 1979 — 47 consecutive years as of 2026. Michelin is the world’s second-largest tire manufacturer (behind Bridgestone), with approximately $30B+ in global revenue and approximately 130,000 employees worldwide. South Carolina operations include approximately 4,000–4,500 corporate and engineering employees at the Greenville HQ plus approximately 8,000–9,000 manufacturing employees across South Carolina plants in Lexington, Sandy Springs, Anderson, and Starr.

Michelin’s French-national international assignees on multi-year US rotations — approximately 300–600 engineers, executives, and technical specialists at any given time — create a permanent source of premium furnished rental demand in Greenville’s walkable neighborhoods (Augusta Road, Downtown/Falls Park, North Main, Overbrook). This cohort seeks 1BR or 2BR furnished units at $1,800–$3,200/month, often with lease terms of 1–3 years tied to their assignment duration. The Michelin assignee market has historically sustained very low vacancy in the $2,000–$3,000 furnished segment even during broader market softening.

Prisma Health — Only Level I Trauma Upstate SC, NCI Cancer Program, USC School of Medicine

Prisma Health (1301 Taylor St, Columbia, SC 29201 — corporate HQ; operational hub in Greenville: Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, 701 Grove Rd, Greenville, SC 29605) is South Carolina’s largest health system, with approximately 30,000 statewide employees and approximately 17,000 in the Greenville market. Greenville Memorial Hospital (827 beds) is the ONLY Level I Trauma Center serving Upstate South Carolina — the region’s sole facility for the highest-acuity trauma cases, including those arising from the I-85/I-385 corridor accidents, manufacturing incidents, and regional emergency transfers from a catchment area spanning Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Laurens, and Cherokee counties.

Prisma Health Greenville Memorial also hosts the USC School of Medicine Greenville (opened 2012), which trains approximately 200–350 medical residents and fellows annually ($60,000–$100,000+ stipends). Residents concentrate in the Grove Road/Haywood Road submarket near the hospital and in the Augusta Road and Five Forks corridors. GHS Children’s Hospital (within Greenville Memorial), Prisma Health Patewood Medical Campus (Verdae corridor), and Prisma Health Baptist Easley Campus (29 miles southwest) round out the Greenville-area footprint.

GE Vernova — Gas Turbine Center of Excellence Since the 1950s

GE Vernova (formerly GE Gas Power; separated from General Electric as GE Vernova, Inc. in April 2024; NYSE:GEV) has maintained a gas turbine design, manufacturing, and service center of excellence in Greenville since the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Greenville campus employs approximately 3,000–3,500 engineers, manufacturing technicians, and service professionals. GE Vernova Greenville designs and produces the HA-class gas turbines (7HA and 9HA) — the world’s most thermally efficient gas turbines with 64–65% combined-cycle efficiency and up to 571 MW output per unit — plus the 7F/9F series gas turbines used in power plants globally. The global shift toward natural gas as a bridge fuel between coal and renewables, accelerated by data center electricity demand driven by AI workloads in 2025–2026, has created significant demand for new gas turbine orders that benefits GE Vernova Greenville employment stability.

Other major Greenville employers: Bon Secours St. Francis Health System (~7,000 employees; St. Francis Downtown 1 St. Francis Dr + St. Francis Eastside 125 Commonwealth Dr; Catholic Daughters of Charity system); Greenville County Schools (~12,000; largest SC school district); TD Auto Finance (Greenville regional hub; ~3,500–4,000 auto lending back-office); Fluor Corporation (~2,000–2,500; nuclear and industrial engineering; Fortune 500); Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (~6,000 in Spartanburg, 25 miles northeast; Level II Trauma).

Greenville Neighborhood Rent Ranges (2026)

Greenville Rent Trajectory: 2019–2026

6. Columbia, SC — Fort Jackson, SC State Government, USC, Prisma Midlands

Columbia is South Carolina’s state capital and the economic hub of the Midlands region. The Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area (Columbia MSA) had approximately 900,000–950,000 residents as of 2026. Columbia’s economy is anchored by three distinctly stable institutional sectors: state government, the US military (Fort Jackson), and higher education (University of South Carolina). This triple institutional anchor has historically produced one of the most economically stable rental markets in the Southeast, with limited boom-bust volatility compared to resort markets or commodity-dependent economies.

Fort Jackson — Largest US Army Initial Entry Training Installation

Fort Jackson (officially Fort Jackson-Columbia since 2023; 1 Jackson Blvd, Columbia, SC 29207) is the largest Initial Entry Training (IET) installation in the United States Army. The installation’s primary mission is Basic Combat Training (BCT): approximately 50,000+ recruits pass through Fort Jackson annually, representing approximately 36–40% of all BCT soldiers trained by the US Army in any given year. No other US installation trains as many recruits in BCT. The installation also hosts:

• CBRN School (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) — training CBRN specialists for all Army components
• Adjutant General School — training Army human resources and records management specialists
• Finance Corps School — training Army finance officers and NCOs
• US Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) HQ — overseeing all Army recruiting nationally
• Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School — training Army attorneys (JAG Corps)

Fort Jackson employs approximately 21,000 military personnel, civilian employees, and contractors, generating an estimated $2.3–2.7B in annual economic impact in the Columbia metropolitan area. The SCRA (50 U.S.C. §§3901 et seq.) applies to all active-duty service members and certain reservists at Fort Jackson: PCS orders trigger the right to terminate a lease with 30-day written notice, effective 30 days after the next rental payment due date. Landlords serving Fort Jackson military tenants should include a SCRA termination clause in every lease and be prepared to process early terminations when PCS orders arrive, typically with 30–60 days’ advance notice. BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) rates for E-5 with dependents in the Columbia area are approximately $1,500–$1,700/month in 2026, supporting demand for 2BR–3BR single-family rentals in the $1,300–$1,800 range in Richland County and surrounding areas.

South Carolina State Government — ~60,000+ Capital-Area Employees

As the state capital, Columbia hosts the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of South Carolina state government, plus the headquarters of most major SC state agencies. Total employment attributable to SC state government in the Columbia-Richland/Lexington County area is estimated at approximately 60,000–70,000, making state government collectively one of the largest employers in the market. Key agencies with major Columbia presences include:

• SC Department of Health and Human Services (~3,500 employees, 1801 Main St)
• SC Department of Transportation (~4,500 employees, 955 Park St)
• SC Department of Motor Vehicles (~2,200 employees, Blythewood)
• SC Department of Revenue (~800 employees, 300A Outlet Pointe Blvd)
• SC Budget and Control Board / Administration (~1,500)
• SC Supreme Court / Court of Appeals / circuit courts (Columbia-based judiciary)
• South Carolina Legislature (~600 legislative employees; USC Columbia-adjacent statehouse area)

State employees receive defined-benefit retirement through SC PEBA (Public Employee Benefit Authority), creating long-term employment stability that sustains rental demand across market cycles. Government shutdown risk is materially lower in South Carolina’s state government than in federal employment markets, making state employee renters a particularly reliable income cohort.

University of South Carolina — R1 Carnegie, SEC, Darla Moore International MBA

The University of South Carolina (USC; Main Campus: 902 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29208) is the flagship state research university and an R1 Carnegie institution. USC enrolls approximately 35,000–37,000 students and employs approximately 7,000–9,000 faculty and staff on the Columbia campus. Key facts for rental market analysis:

• Darla Moore School of Business — consistently ranked #1 in the US for international business (undergraduate and graduate) by US News & World Report; approximately 5,500 business students; drives demand in the Five Points, Vista, and Garners Ferry Road submarkets
• SEC Athletics — South Carolina Gamecocks; Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250 capacity; 7+ home football games/year with ~$15M+ economic impact per game); significant STR premium during home football games ($300–$900/night for properties within 5 miles)
• USC School of Medicine — approximately 400–500 medical students; teaching partner with Prisma Health Midlands (Prisma Health Richland Hospital 648 beds + Tuomey Medical Center Sumter); residency and fellowship training across Columbia
• Research Enterprise — USC generates $300M+ in annual research funding, supporting ~500 postdoctoral researchers and grant-funded research staff

Prisma Health Midlands — Columbia’s Largest Hospital System

Prisma Health Midlands (~11,000 employees in the Columbia MSA; Prisma Health Richland Hospital, 5 Richland Medical Park Dr, Columbia, SC; 648 beds; Level II Trauma) is Columbia’s largest hospital system and a major employer of medical professionals who rent in the Forest Acres, Northeast Columbia, and Lexington County submarkets. Prisma Health Tuomey in Sumter (approximately 40 miles east) extends the system’s footprint into the I-26 corridor.

Other major Columbia employers: Providence Health Columbia (now Novant Health; Level II Trauma; ~5,000 employees; 2435 Forest Dr); Colonial Life & Accident Insurance (Unum Group subsidiary; 1200 Colonial Life Blvd W; ~5,000 employees; founded Columbia 1937 = 89 consecutive years; specialty voluntary benefits insurance nationwide); BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (501 Gervais St; independent nonprofit; ~4,500 employees; largest SC health insurer; distinct from any BCBS licensee in another state); Nephron Pharmaceuticals (4500 12th St Extension, West Columbia; ~2,000 employees; specialty generic injectable drugs manufactured in FDA-regulated sterile environment; one of the world’s largest pre-filled syringe manufacturers); Lexington Medical Center (~6,500 employees; West Columbia; Lexington County’s largest hospital; Level II Trauma); SCANA / Dominion Energy South Carolina (~5,600 statewide; Columbia HQ; largest SC electric utility after 2019 Dominion Energy acquisition of SCANA Corporation).

Columbia Neighborhood Rent Ranges (2026)

Columbia Rent Trajectory: 2019–2026

7. Charleston, SC — Boeing 787, Joint Base Charleston, MUSC, Port of Charleston

Charleston is South Carolina’s most expensive rental market, anchored by the intersection of defense, aerospace manufacturing, healthcare, port logistics, and tourism. The Charleston-North Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area had approximately 850,000–900,000 residents as of 2026. Charleston Peninsula itself is highly supply-constrained by geographic boundaries (surrounded by water on three sides), driving premium rents in the historic downtown and pushing workforce renters toward North Charleston, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, and Summerville.

Joint Base Charleston — C-17A Fleet + Naval Weapons Station Nuclear Storage

Joint Base Charleston (JB Charleston; 305 West Carolina Ave, Charleston, SC 29404) was established in 2010 by the consolidation of Charleston Air Force Base (established 1941) and Naval Weapons Station Charleston (established 1915). JB Charleston encompasses approximately 16,000 acres across two primary sites and employs approximately 15,000–17,000 military personnel, civilians, and contractors — making it one of the five largest military installations in South Carolina by employment. Two missions dominate:

• 437th Airlift Wing (437 AW), AMC — operates one of the US Air Force’s largest fleets of C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft. The C-17 is the workhorse of US strategic airlift, capable of delivering 170,900 lbs of cargo to austere forward airfields; approximately 54 C-17As are based at JB Charleston. The 315th Airlift Wing (AFRC reserve) co-locates at JB Charleston, making it the only US installation with both an active-duty and reserve C-17 wing.
• Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Charleston — one of the US Navy’s primary nuclear weapons storage, handling, and transportation facilities on the East Coast. NWS Charleston also supports submarine logistics (USS Frank Cable AS-40 submarine tender operations have been associated with the Charleston complex) and conventional weapons storage for the Atlantic Fleet. The nuclear storage mission makes NWS Charleston a high-security component that sustains significant classified workforce employment.

JB Charleston military families receive BAH at the Charleston area rate: approximately $1,800–$2,200/month for E-5 with dependents in 2026, supporting significant demand for 2BR–4BR single-family rentals in North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Summerville, and Ladson. SCRA protections apply to all active-duty service members; PCS early termination notices arrive frequently given the combined wing structure and submarine rotations.

Boeing South Carolina — 787 Dreamliner Final Assembly, North Charleston

Boeing South Carolina (2000 Global Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418) is Boeing’s primary widebody commercial aircraft manufacturing facility, producing the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in -8, -9, and -10 variants. Key facts:

• Opened 2011 — Boeing’s North Charleston facility was the first new US commercial final assembly line opened in more than 40 years, and the first major commercial assembly operation in South Carolina history.
• ~40% of global 787 production — The North Charleston facility accounts for approximately 40% of all 787 Dreamliner deliveries (the remainder from Everett, WA), making it a critical component of Boeing’s widebody output.
• ~7,000 direct employees — plus approximately 2,000–3,000 on-site contractors. Total supply chain employment attributed to Boeing South Carolina in the Charleston MSA is estimated at 12,000–18,000.
• Right-to-work manufacturing — the North Charleston facility is non-union (IAM-free), contrasting with Boeing’s Everett, WA facility, which has historically had IAM representation. This was a significant factor in Boeing’s 2009 site selection decision.

Boeing employment is concentrated in the North Charleston / Ladson / Summerville / Hanahan area, driving demand for 1BR–3BR rentals in the $1,200–$2,200 range in these submarkets. Boeing production roles ($55,000–$95,000/year) and engineering roles ($85,000–$160,000+/year) support a broad income range of renters who form the backbone of the North Charleston workforce rental market.

MUSC — South Carolina’s Only NCI Cancer Center + Only Level I Trauma Charleston

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC; 171 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29425) is South Carolina’s only academic health center and the healthcare anchor of the Charleston Peninsula. With approximately 14,500 employees statewide (majority in Charleston), MUSC is one of the three largest employers in the Charleston MSA. Three unique designations distinguish MUSC from any other health system in the state:

• South Carolina’s ONLY NCI-Designated Cancer Center — The Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC is the sole NCI-designated cancer center in South Carolina. Approximately 71 NCI-designated cancer centers exist nationally; SC has one, and it is at MUSC in Charleston. This designation drives specialty oncology patients and clinical trial researchers to Charleston from across the state.
• Only Level I Trauma Center in the Charleston Region — MUSC Health Medical Center (MUSC Health University Medical Center, 169 Ashley Ave) is the Level I Trauma Center for the Charleston metropolitan area. No other trauma designation matches Level I in the Charleston region.
• South Carolina’s ONLY Organ Transplant Center — MUSC performs all solid organ transplants (kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas) in South Carolina. Patients requiring transplants from anywhere in the state are referred to MUSC.

MUSC’s graduate medical education program trains approximately 700+ residents and fellows annually, a cohort that is a significant long-term renter segment on the Charleston Peninsula and in West Ashley. Attending physicians (hospitalists, surgeons, subspecialists) at $200,000–$600,000+ annually drive demand for luxury Peninsula rentals ($3,000–$6,000+/month). Research faculty and postdoctoral researchers at $65,000–$130,000 fill the $1,600–$2,800 segment.

Port of Charleston — $56B Economic Impact, 52-Foot Harbor, BMW Export Gateway

The Port of Charleston (SC Ports Authority; primary terminals: Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant and the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston) is one of the top-10 US container ports by TEU volume and the economic engine of South Carolina’s export economy. Key metrics for 2026:

• ~$56B total statewide economic impact from port operations
• 52-foot harbor depth — The Charleston Harbor Deepening Project (completed 2022) achieved a 52-foot mean low-water depth in the main shipping channel, the deepest single harbor dredging project in US Army Corps of Engineers history. This depth accommodates the world’s largest container ships (ultra-large container vessels, ULCV, with 20,000+ TEU capacity) on the East Coast.
• Primary BMW export gateway — Approximately $9–12B in BMW vehicles (X3/X4/X5/X6/X7/XM produced in Spartanburg) are exported through the Wando Welch Terminal annually, making the Port of Charleston one of the highest-value vehicle export ports in the Western Hemisphere.
• ~200+ weekly container sailings across multiple international trade lanes

SC Ports Authority employs approximately 650–800 direct staff; total port-dependent employment in the Charleston MSA is estimated at 35,000–45,000 across logistics, warehousing, customs brokerage, and freight forwarding. The port workforce anchors demand in the North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek, and Summerville submarkets.

Other major Charleston employers: Roper St. Francis Healthcare (~5,000 employees; Roper Hospital + Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital; largest non-MUSC health system in Charleston); College of Charleston (~1,200 faculty/staff; ~11,500 students; primary demand driver in the lower Peninsula and West Ashley corridors); Trident Health System / HCA Healthcare (~5,500 employees; Trident Medical Center Summerville; Level II Trauma); Joint Base Charleston / Boeing combined: the North Charleston area is arguably the most defense-aerospace-concentrated metro submarket in the Southeast.

Charleston Neighborhood Rent Ranges (2026)

Charleston Rent Trajectory: 2019–2026

8. Myrtle Beach & Grand Strand — Tourism Economy and STR Market

Myrtle Beach and the broader Grand Strand — the 60-mile coastal arc from Little River (Horry County) south through Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Garden City, Pawleys Island, and Litchfield Beach — constitute South Carolina’s largest short-term rental market and a significant year-round rental market for the non-tourism workforce. The Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area had approximately 520,000–560,000 residents as of 2026, making it one of the fastest-growing US metro areas by percentage growth since 2010 (driven by coastal retirement in-migration and remote work arrivals).

Tourism Economy — 21 Million Visitors Annually

The Grand Strand attracts approximately 21 million visitors per year, generating approximately $10B in annual economic impact — making it one of the five most-visited coastal resort destinations in the continental United States. Peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) produces extraordinary STR demand; oceanfront properties and vacation condo units command $1,500–$6,000+/week for peak-summer weekly rentals. Off-peak months (January–March) see vacancy rates rise sharply for STR properties, which is why many Grand Strand landlords maintain dual-use strategies: STR during summer season, longer-term annual leases October–April.

For year-round long-term rental tenants, South Carolina SCRLTA protections apply fully in Myrtle Beach and Horry County. No rent control ordinance exists. No STR restriction in Horry County limits the ability to operate as either a STR or long-term rental — unlike Charleston (which restricts non-owner-occupied STRs in some residential zones) or New Orleans (which bans new non-owner STR licenses in the French Quarter). Horry County broadly permits STR operations subject to SC accommodations tax collection and local business license requirements.

Major Employers in the Myrtle Beach Area

The Myrtle Beach-Horry County economy is more dependent on hospitality and construction than Columbia or Greenville, but three institutional anchors support year-round renter demand:

• Coastal Carolina University (CCU) (100 Chanticleer Dr W, Conway, SC 29528; approximately 14 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach via US-501): approximately 12,000–13,000 students; approximately 1,500–1,800 faculty and staff; Sun Belt Conference (athletics); AACSB-accredited Wall College of Business; fast-growing research university (founded 1954 as Coastal Carolina Jr. College; became independent state university 1993). CCU students drive demand in the Conway (15 miles from beach) and Myrtle Beach University area submarkets, with 1BR units at $850–$1,300/month in 2026.
• Grand Strand Medical Center (809 82nd Pkwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572): approximately 4,500–5,500 employees including staff of affiliated physician groups; 369 beds; Level II Trauma; owned by HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA). Largest hospital in the Grand Strand; primary demand driver for medical professional rentals in the $1,200–$2,000 range near US-17 Bypass and Carolina Forest.
• Tidelands Health (4040 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576): approximately 2,500–3,000 employees; community health system serving Georgetown and lower Horry counties; Waccamaw Community Hospital and Conway Medical Center; nonprofit independent health system.
• Hospitality sector: approximately 50,000+ hospitality and leisure jobs in the Grand Strand during peak season (hotels, golf courses, restaurants, amusement attractions, water parks); many are seasonal. Year-round hospitality workers form the core of the $900–$1,400/month long-term rental market in non-beachfront Myrtle Beach areas.

Myrtle Beach / Grand Strand Rent Ranges (2026)

Myrtle Beach long-term rents have risen approximately 30–40% since 2019 (from ~$900–$1,050 for a year-round 1BR to ~$1,100–$1,500 in 2026), driven by permanent in-migration from higher-cost metros (Charlotte, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) combined with the broader Sun Belt surge of 2021–2022. No rent control buffers this appreciation for long-term tenants. SC SCRLTA protections apply: 5-day cure right on non-payment, 30-day deposit return, prohibition on self-help evictions, all via Horry County Magistrate Court.

9. 8-State Comparison: South Carolina vs. Neighboring and Peer States

South Carolina’s 5-day cure right aligns it with Virginia (URLTA-based, 5-day cure) rather than the more landlord-favorable 3-day-no-cure framework of Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida, or the longer-cure frameworks of Nebraska (7-day cure) and Maryland (10-day pre-filing notice). For South Carolina landlords, the practical implication is that a tenant who receives a 5-day notice and pays in full on day 4 has extinguished the default — the landlord may not terminate, change locks, or pursue ejectment.

10. 8-Step South Carolina Landlord Compliance Checklist (2026)

1. Document the deposit in writing and in the lease. South Carolina imposes no deposit cap, but the lease must clearly state the deposit amount, permitted deductions, and return timeline. Best practice: collect no more than 1–2 months’ rent as a deposit to limit disputes; deposit amounts materially above 2 months’ rent increase the risk of magistrate court forfeiture findings if the tenant disputes itemizations.
2. Return the deposit or deliver itemized deductions within 30 days of vacancy. SCRLTA §27-40-410 requires return within 30 days from the date the tenancy terminates and the tenant vacates. Mail itemized deductions with any remainder to the tenant’s last known forwarding address. Retain proof of mailing (USPS certified mail with return receipt is best practice). Document the unit condition with photos or video at move-out to support any deduction claims.
3. Serve the 5-day notice correctly. A non-payment notice under SCRLTA §27-40-710 must be in writing, state the amount of rent due, and give the tenant 5 days to pay in full. The notice may be served by personal delivery to the tenant or an adult household member, or by posting at the unit and mailing. Do not serve a vacate-only notice (as in Louisiana) — South Carolina’s notice must acknowledge the tenant’s right to cure by payment.
4. Accept full payment tendered within the 5-day cure period. If the tenant pays all rent due within the 5-day notice period, you must accept and may not proceed with termination for that default. The cure right is mandatory and non-waivable under the SCRLTA. Landlords who refuse a timely cure payment and attempt to proceed with ejectment will lose in magistrate court.
5. Never use self-help eviction measures. Changing locks, removing or tampering with tenant belongings, shutting off water, electricity, gas, or HVAC, and any other act designed to constructively evict are prohibited under SCRLTA §27-40-750. File ejectment in the county magistrate court; allow the magistrate and county sheriff to complete the process lawfully.
6. Include a SCRA clause in all leases for military-adjacent markets (Charleston, Columbia/Fort Jackson). In the Charleston MSA (JB Charleston, Boeing South Carolina), Columbia MSA (Fort Jackson), Greenville-Spartanburg area (limited but present military presence), and Myrtle Beach area, active-duty service members may exercise SCRA early termination rights with 30-day written notice after receiving PCS, deployment, or separation orders. The SCRA termination is effective 30 days after the next rent payment date following notice. Acknowledge this right in the lease to demonstrate compliance.
7. Maintain the unit in compliance with SCRLTA §27-40-510 habitability standards. South Carolina’s implied warranty of habitability (codified in SCRLTA §27-40-510) requires landlords to maintain the premises in a fit and habitable condition: weatherproofing, working plumbing and heating, adequate hot water, pest-free structure, and compliance with applicable building and housing codes affecting health and safety. Chronic habitability failures give tenants rights to withhold rent or terminate the lease under SCRLTA §27-40-610 after providing written notice and a reasonable repair period.
8. Register STR properties and collect accommodations tax if operating in Myrtle Beach or any South Carolina STR market. South Carolina imposes a 7% accommodations tax (plus 1.5% local accommodations tax in some jurisdictions) on gross STR revenue (stays under 90 days). Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton Head, and Pawleys Island all have additional local accommodation tax layers. SCDOR requires STR operators to register for a Retail License and remit collected taxes quarterly or monthly depending on revenue volume. Failure to register and remit subjects operators to penalties and back-tax liability.

11. Frequently Asked Questions