Landlord Entry Notice Requirements in South Carolina

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Governing law

South Carolina's entry rule is § 27-40-530, the "Access" section of the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. It is more detailed than most states'. The general rule is 24 hours' notice, but the statute carves out two "service" entries — regularly scheduled upkeep and services the tenant asked for — that a landlord may make without the tenant's consent and without 24 hours' notice, each in its own fixed hours (§ 27-40-530(b)). Everything not on the statute's lists is barred: a landlord "has no other right of access except" the four situations in § 27-40-530(d). A separate section, § 27-40-780, supplies the remedies when either side abuses the access rules.

Advance notice required

For an ordinary entry — an inspection, a repair not on a set schedule, a showing — the landlord "shall give the tenant at least twenty-four hours notice of his intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times" (§ 27-40-530(c)). Twenty-four hours is the floor. The only entries that escape it are the "item (b)" service visits below and a genuine emergency.

Reasons a landlord may enter

Section 27-40-530(a) lists the ordinary purposes: to inspect the unit; make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements; supply agreed services; or exhibit the unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workmen, or contractors. Outside those, § 27-40-530(d) closes the door: a landlord has "no other right of access except" by court order; as permitted by §§ 27-40-720 and 27-40-730; when accompanied by a law enforcement officer at reasonable times to serve process in an ejectment (eviction) case; or after the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit.

Permitted hours

A general entry is limited to "reasonable times." The two service entries have hard clocks instead: regularly scheduled periodic services — the statute's examples are changing furnace and air-conditioning filters and termite, insect, or pest treatment — may be done "between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m." (§ 27-40-530(b)(2)); and services the tenant requested may be done "between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m." (§ 27-40-530(b)(3)). An emergency entry may be made "at any time."

When no notice is needed

Section 27-40-530(b) sets three entries a landlord may make without consent and without 24 hours' notice. First, an emergency "at any time" — and South Carolina expressly counts "prospective changes in weather conditions which pose a likelihood of danger to the property" as a possible emergency, so a landlord can act before a storm hits. Second, scheduled periodic services (9 a.m.–6 p.m.) — but only if the right to do them "is conspicuously set forth in writing in the rental agreement," and the landlord "announces his intent to enter" before entering. Third, tenant-requested services (8 a.m.–8 p.m.), again announcing intent first. Note the trade: these entries skip the 24-hour notice but require the landlord to announce entry at the door, and the periodic-service right only exists if the lease conspicuously says so.

Form and delivery of the notice

For a general entry the statute requires "at least twenty-four hours notice" but does not say the notice must be written or fix its contents (§ 27-40-530(c)). The service entries replace notice with two different formalities: the periodic-service right must be "conspicuously set forth in writing in the rental agreement," and before entering for either scheduled or requested services the landlord "announces his intent to enter to perform services" (§ 27-40-530(b)(2)-(3)).

Special rules for showings

South Carolina has none. Showing the unit to a buyer or a prospective new tenant is an ordinary entry purpose under § 27-40-530(a), so it takes the general 24-hour notice and must be at a reasonable time — there is no shorter or oral track for sale showings the way some states allow. One related rule cuts the other way: a tenant "shall not change locks on the dwelling unit without the permission of the landlord" (§ 27-40-530(e)).

Tenant's remedies for unlawful entry

Section 27-40-780(b) is the remedy. If a landlord "knowingly makes an unlawful entry or repeated lawful entry in an unreasonable manner or makes repeated demands for entry otherwise lawful but which have the effect of unreasonably harassing the tenant," the tenant may get "injunctive relief in magistrates' or circuit court without posting bond to prevent the recurrence of the conduct or terminate the rental agreement," and "may recover actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees." The statute is symmetrical: a tenant who "refuses to allow lawful access" faces the same injunction/termination-plus-damages remedy on the landlord's side (§ 27-40-780(a)).

What trips people up

The periodic-service exception only works if the lease says so. A landlord may enter 9 a.m.–6 p.m. for scheduled upkeep like filter changes or pest control without 24 hours' notice — but only where that right "is conspicuously set forth in writing in the rental agreement" (§ 27-40-530(b)(2)). No lease clause, no shortcut; the general 24-hour rule applies instead.

"Announcing intent" is not the same as 24 hours' notice. For the two service entries, the landlord skips advance notice but must announce entry at the door before coming in. For every other entry, the 24-hour rule stands.

A weather threat can be an emergency. South Carolina's statute is unusual in saying that "prospective changes in weather conditions which pose a likelihood of danger to the property may be considered an emergency" (§ 27-40-530(b)(1)) — so a landlord may enter without notice to protect the property before a storm.

Common questions

How much notice does my South Carolina landlord need to enter? At least 24 hours for an ordinary entry, and only at a reasonable time and for a listed reason like repairs, an inspection, or a showing (§ 27-40-530(c)). Scheduled upkeep and services you requested follow separate rules.

Can my landlord come in for pest control without telling me a day ahead? Only if your lease conspicuously gives that right, the visit is 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and the landlord announces entry at the door first (§ 27-40-530(b)(2)). Otherwise the 24-hour rule applies.

Does my landlord need 24 hours' notice to fix something I asked them to fix? No. A service you requested may be done 8 a.m.–8 p.m. once the landlord announces intent to enter (§ 27-40-530(b)(3)) — asking for the repair is what allows the entry.

What can I do if my landlord keeps entering to harass me? You can seek an injunction without posting bond, or terminate the lease, and recover actual damages and attorney's fees, when a landlord knowingly makes unlawful entries or repeatedly demands entry in a way that unreasonably harasses you (§ 27-40-780(b)).

Statutes and sources

• S.C. Code § 27-40-530 — the access section: the entry-purpose list and duty not to unreasonably withhold consent (a); the three no-consent entries — emergency, scheduled periodic services (9–6), and requested services (8–8) — with their conditions (b); the general 24-hour-notice and reasonable-times rule (c); the closed "no other right of access" list (d); and the bar on a tenant changing locks without permission (e). https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c040.php (accessed 2026-07-11)
• S.C. Code § 27-40-780 — remedies for abuse of access: the landlord's injunction/termination and damages remedy when a tenant refuses lawful access (a), and the tenant's parallel remedy — injunctive relief without bond, lease termination, actual damages, and attorney's fees — for a knowing unlawful entry or repeated harassing entry (b). https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c040.php (accessed 2026-07-11)