Last updated: April 2026
Mount Pleasant renters rely entirely on South Carolina state law for their protections — no local ordinances exist, but state law sets clear rules on security deposits, habitability, eviction, and illegal lockouts.
Want to check your specific address? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Mount Pleasant is one of South Carolina's fastest-growing cities and sits just east of Charleston across the Cooper River in Charleston County. With a booming real estate market and a large and growing rental housing sector, Mount Pleasant has attracted many renters priced out of downtown Charleston. All residential tenancies in Mount Pleasant are governed by South Carolina's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, found at S.C. Code §§ 27-40-10 through 27-40-940. The city has no local tenant ordinances.
South Carolina's Landlord and Tenant Act provides renters in Mount Pleasant with important baseline protections: a 30-day deposit return deadline with significant triple-damages penalties, a 14-day window for landlords to make non-emergency repairs, anti-retaliation protections, and an outright ban on self-help eviction. Understanding these rights is essential for navigating Mount Pleasant's competitive rental market.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Renters facing housing disputes should contact South Carolina Legal Services or a licensed South Carolina attorney for guidance specific to their situation.
Mount Pleasant has no rent control, and South Carolina does not permit any city or county to enact rent control. South Carolina's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code § 27-40-10 et seq.) does not authorize rent stabilization, and there is no statewide mechanism permitting local governments to limit rent. Mount Pleasant and all other South Carolina cities are legally unable to adopt such ordinances under current state law.
This means a Mount Pleasant landlord may increase rent by any amount. For month-to-month tenants, the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice before changing the terms of the tenancy (S.C. Code § 27-40-770). There are no percentage caps, no annual limits, and no requirement to justify the size of an increase. Tenants on fixed-term leases are protected from rent increases for the duration of the lease; increases may only take effect at renewal.
Mount Pleasant's rapidly appreciating real estate market has made rent increases a persistent concern for renters. Tenants who cannot absorb an increase should review their lease terms carefully and contact South Carolina Legal Services for advice on their options.
South Carolina's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code §§ 27-40-10 through 27-40-940) establishes the full set of tenant rights in Mount Pleasant. Key protections include the following.
Habitability and Repairs (S.C. Code § 27-40-630): Landlords must maintain rental premises in a habitable condition, including functioning heat, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural soundness. After a tenant gives written notice of a repair need, the landlord has 14 days to begin making non-emergency repairs (or a shorter time for emergency conditions). If the landlord fails to act within this period, the tenant may terminate the lease, withhold rent (by depositing it with the court), or pursue other remedies through the courts. A tenant seeking rent withholding or termination must be current on rent and must have properly notified the landlord.
Anti-Retaliation (S.C. Code § 27-40-910): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting a housing code violation to a government authority, complaining about habitability conditions, or exercising any legal right. Prohibited retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, and initiating eviction proceedings within a reasonable time after a tenant's protected activity. Retaliation is a recognized defense in eviction proceedings in South Carolina courts.
Lockout Prohibition (S.C. Code § 27-40-660): Self-help eviction is illegal in South Carolina. A landlord must obtain a court order before removing a tenant from rental premises. A landlord who changes locks, removes doors, shuts off utilities, or otherwise excludes a tenant without a court order may face civil liability. Tenants who are illegally locked out should document the incident and contact legal aid immediately.
Notice to Terminate (S.C. Code § 27-40-770): Month-to-month tenancies require at least 30 days' written notice from either party before the tenancy can be terminated.
Security Deposits (S.C. Code § 27-40-410): Covered in detail in the Security Deposit section below.
Security deposit rules in Mount Pleasant are set by S.C. Code § 27-40-410. South Carolina does not cap the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit.
Return Deadline: After a tenant vacates the rental unit, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions. If the landlord retains all or part of the deposit, the itemized statement must specify each deduction and its amount.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: South Carolina imposes one of the strongest security deposit penalties in the Southeast. If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the deposit without a valid itemized statement, the tenant may recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(d)). This treble-damages provision is a significant deterrent against improper withholding.
Allowable Deductions: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, damage to the unit beyond normal wear and tear, and other amounts the tenant owes under the lease. Normal wear and tear — minor scuffs, standard carpet wear, small nail holes — cannot be deducted. Landlords may not deduct for conditions that existed before the tenancy began.
Practical Tips: Document your unit's condition at move-in and move-out with dated photos and video. Provide your landlord with a written forwarding address at move-out to start the 30-day return clock. Security deposit claims may be filed in Charleston County Magistrate Court without an attorney if the amount is within the court's jurisdictional limits.
Evictions in Mount Pleasant must follow South Carolina's statutory process. A landlord cannot remove a tenant through self-help — doing so is illegal under S.C. Code § 27-40-660.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. For nonpayment of rent, South Carolina requires a 5-day notice to pay or vacate (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(b)). For material lease violations other than nonpayment, the landlord must give a 14-day notice to cure or vacate (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(a)). To terminate a month-to-month tenancy without cause, at least 30 days' written notice is required (S.C. Code § 27-40-770).
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Action (Rule to Show Cause): If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction action (Rule to Show Cause) in Charleston County Magistrate Court. The tenant will be served with a hearing date, typically within 10–15 days of filing.
Step 3 — Magistrate Court Hearing: Both parties present their case before the magistrate. Tenants may raise defenses including improper notice, payment of rent, habitability violations, or retaliation under S.C. Code § 27-40-910. If the landlord prevails, the magistrate issues a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Writ of Ejectment: If the tenant does not vacate after the judgment, the landlord may request a writ of ejectment directing the Charleston County Sheriff to remove the tenant. Only the sheriff may physically carry out the eviction.
South Carolina does not require just cause to end a month-to-month tenancy. However, retaliatory evictions are prohibited under S.C. Code § 27-40-910 and may serve as a defense in court.
No. Mount Pleasant has no rent control, and South Carolina does not authorize any city to enact rent control or rent stabilization. Landlords in Mount Pleasant may raise rent by any amount with proper advance notice.
There is no legal limit on rent increases in Mount Pleasant. For month-to-month tenants, your landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice before changing the terms of your tenancy (S.C. Code § 27-40-770). Fixed-term leases protect your rent for the duration of the lease term.
Your landlord has 30 days after you vacate to return your security deposit with a written itemized statement of deductions (S.C. Code § 27-40-410). If your landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of your deposit, you may recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld.
For nonpayment of rent, your landlord must give a 5-day written notice to pay or vacate (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(b)). For material lease violations, a 14-day notice to cure or vacate is required. To end a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days' written notice is required (S.C. Code § 27-40-770). The landlord must then file in Charleston County Magistrate Court — self-help eviction is illegal (S.C. Code § 27-40-660).
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in South Carolina under S.C. Code § 27-40-660. Your landlord must obtain a court order before removing you from your rental unit. If your landlord illegally locks you out or shuts off utilities, document the incident and contact South Carolina Legal Services immediately.
Under S.C. Code § 27-40-630, your landlord must begin non-emergency repairs within 14 days of receiving written notice. If the landlord fails to act, you may have the right to terminate the lease, seek rent withholding (deposited with the court), or pursue other court remedies — provided you are current on rent. Contact South Carolina Legal Services before withholding rent, as specific procedures must be followed.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and outcomes depend on specific facts. If you are facing an eviction, security deposit dispute, or other housing issue in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, consult a licensed South Carolina attorney or contact South Carolina Legal Services. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and cannot provide legal representation.
We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Learn about tenant rights in other South Carolina cities:
Home | About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© RentCheckMe. All rights reserved. Design: HTML5 UP.