South Carolina Eviction Notice

Create a proper South Carolina eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.

Reflects current South Carolina rules · 2026Official source linkedFree PDF · no signup · nothing uploaded

Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.

What happens after the notice in South Carolina

If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are South Carolina’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.

What the case is called. In South Carolina an eviction lawsuit is a(n) Ejectment (application for rule to vacate or show cause) action. — S.C. Code § 27-37-10 (Grounds for ejectment) ↗
Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Magistrate Court. — S.C. Code § 27-37-20 (Ejectment of tenants; rule to vacate or show cause) ↗
How to serve the notice. Statute only requires the landlord to 'deliver a written notice' (14-day cure notice; 5-day nonpayment notice, which can be satisfied by conspicuous lease language). No delivery method is prescribed for the notice; the court's Rule to Vacate is served like a summons. — S.C. Code § 27-40-710(A)-(B) (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) ↗
Filing fee. $20 magistrate fee for landlord-tenant proceedings (S.C. Code § 8-21-1010(A)(9)); a separate $45 fee applies to issuing a summons/judgment in civil actions (§ 8-21-1010(A)(6)). — S.C. Code § 8-21-1010(A)(9) (2000 Act No. 226, eff. April 1, 2000) ↗
No self-help. S.C. Code § 27-40-660: unlawful removal/exclusion or interruption of essential services lets tenant recover possession or terminate plus 3 months' rent or twice actual damages, and attorney's fees. — S.C. Code § 27-40-660 (1986 Act No. 336) ↗

Each point links to the South Carolina source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.

South Carolina notice periods · as of 2026

Non-payment of rent: 5 days
Lease violation (cure): 14 days
End month-to-month: 30 days

Source: S.C. Code § 27-40-710; § 27-40-770 · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.

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Date of noticeLandlord / agent nameTenant name(s)Rental property addressReasonAmount owed (if non-payment)Notice period (days — per your state law)Comply / vacate by (date)

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Notice to Pay or Quit / Vacate

State of South Carolina

Date: __________. To: __________ ("Tenant"), and all occupants of __________ (the "Premises").

You are hereby notified that you are in violation of your tenancy for the following reason: __________ . Amount due, if applicable: $______.

You are required, within ____ days as required by South Carolina law, on or before__________, to cure the violation (or pay the amount due) OR to vacate and surrender the Premises. If you fail to do so, the landlord may begin eviction proceedings in court.

This notice is given under the landlord-tenant laws of the State of South Carolina. Nothing here waives the landlord’s rights.

Landlord signature / date

Generated with SealFormsReflects South Carolina law · verified 2026

Types of eviction notice

Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.

South Carolina notice period & service

The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by South Carolina law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current South Carolina eviction rules before serving.

Frequently asked questions

How many days notice do I have to give in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 5 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: S.C. Code § 27-40-710; § 27-40-770. Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.

Is an eviction notice the same as eviction?

No. The notice is the required first step — it gives the tenant a chance to pay, fix the problem, or move out by a deadline. If they don’t, you then file an eviction (unlawful detainer) case in court. You cannot lock out or remove a tenant yourself; only a court and law enforcement can carry out an eviction.

How do I serve the notice in South Carolina?

States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow South Carolina’s method carefully.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in South Carolina.

Where does a landlord file an eviction case in South Carolina?

If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Magistrate Court (the case is called a(n) Ejectment (application for rule to vacate or show cause) action). Source: S.C. Code § 27-37-20 (Ejectment of tenants; rule to vacate or show cause).

How must an eviction notice be served in South Carolina?

Statute only requires the landlord to 'deliver a written notice' (14-day cure notice; 5-day nonpayment notice, which can be satisfied by conspicuous lease language). No delivery method is prescribed for the notice; the court's Rule to Vacate is served like a summons. Source: S.C. Code § 27-40-710(A)-(B) (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act).

What does it cost to file an eviction in South Carolina?

$20 magistrate fee for landlord-tenant proceedings (S.C. Code § 8-21-1010(A)(9)); a separate $45 fee applies to issuing a summons/judgment in civil actions (§ 8-21-1010(A)(6)). Source: S.C. Code § 8-21-1010(A)(9) (2000 Act No. 226, eff. April 1, 2000).

How does South Carolina compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.

How South Carolina compares

Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for South Carolina: S.C. Code § 27-40-710; § 27-40-770 ↗.

Notice to pay rent or quit

Notice to pay rent or quit: 5 days, exactly the national median.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.

Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Georgia (3 days), North Carolina (10 days).

Notice to cure a lease violation

Notice to cure a lease violation: 14 days, exactly the national median.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.

Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Georgia (no statutory rule), North Carolina (no statutory rule).

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Georgia (60 days), North Carolina (7 days).

Eviction notice in other states

More South Carolina legal forms

Different state? See eviction notices by state →