Deposit laws by state › South Carolina
State law · South Carolina
South Carolina security deposit law
How long your landlord has to return your deposit, what they can deduct, and what happens if they get it wrong.
Short answer: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant returns possession, and the tenant demands the deposit, whichever is later, the landlord must return it, itemizing any deductions in a written notice.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in South Carolina?
- Return deadline
- Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant returns possession, and the tenant demands the deposit, whichever is later, the landlord must return it, itemizing any deductions in a written notice.S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a)
- Itemized list
- The itemized written notice of deductions is due within the same 30 days.S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a)
- Forwarding address
- The tenant should give a written forwarding address. Without one, the tenant gets no damages if the landlord did not know where the tenant was and mailed the notice to the last known address.S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a)
- Your demand starts the clock
- The 30-day deadline starts with the tenant's demand.S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a)
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if a South Carolina landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- South Carolina's statute does not state a forfeiture; the remedy is treble damages.S.C. Code § 27-40-410
- Penalty
- If the landlord fails to return the deposit with the required notice, the tenant may recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees.S.C. Code § 27-40-410(b)
What can a South Carolina landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: Accrued rent and damages from the tenant's failure to meet the tenant's duties. (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a))
What the itemized list must include: Deductions must be itemized in a written notice. (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a))
South Carolina's deposit statute does not separately define normal wear and tear. See what counts as normal wear and tear for how it is generally treated.
More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in South Carolina
Small-claims limit: South Carolina magistrate court hears civil claims up to $7,500. (S.C. Code §§ 22-3-10, 22-3-20)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
What to do if your South Carolina landlord kept your deposit
- Pin down your dates. When you moved out, returned the keys, and gave a forwarding address in writing. Compare them with the deadline above.
- Gather your evidence. Move-in and move-out photos, the lease, the landlord's list of deductions, receipts and messages. The case checklist covers what matters.
- Send a demand letter by certified mail. Ask for the money, cite South Carolina's rules, and give a deadline to pay. What a demand letter does.
- If they still don't pay, consider small claims court. You don't need a lawyer there.
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Sources
These rules come from the same verified table the Demand Letter Companion uses, checked against the sources below on October 25, 2026. Laws change; check the current official text before relying on a date.
- S.C. Code §§ 22-3-10, 22-3-20: kershaw.sc.gov
Other states: see the guides for all 50 states and DC
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Local ordinances can add rules, and your lease and facts matter. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in South Carolina.