How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, a landlord has 30 calendar days (ordinary return/itemization deadline (whichever event is later starts or completes the 30-day clock)) to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: After the later of (i) termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession, or (ii) demand by the tenant. The verified penalty formula is tenant may recover the property and money in an amount equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410.
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 calendar days (ordinary return/itemization deadline (whichever event is later starts or completes the 30-day clock)) |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | after the later of (i) termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession, or (ii) demand by the tenant |
| Penalty formula | tenant may recover the property and money in an amount equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 |
Statute says
Upon termination of the tenancy, property or money held by the landlord as security must be returned less amounts withheld by the landlord for accrued rent and damages which the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with Section 27-40-510. Any deduction from the security/rental deposit must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice to the tenant together with the amount due, if any, within thirty days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession and demand by the tenant, whichever is later. The tenant shall provide the landlord in writing with a forwarding address or new address to which the written notice and amount due from the landlord may be sent.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410.
FAQ
Does Charleston have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable South Carolina law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the South Carolina deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is tenant may recover the property and money in an amount equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410. Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 30 calendar days (ordinary return/itemization deadline (whichever event is later starts or completes the 30-day clock)). The deadline trigger is After the later of (i) termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession, or (ii) demand by the tenant. A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send the letter that starts the clock and keeps the demand tied to the verified South Carolina deadline.
build a South Carolina demand letter
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.