GENERALLY

Charleston, S.C., City Code ch. 7, art. IV, div. 1

in effect

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-71 Legislative findings; declaration of intent to repair, close or demolish unfit dwellings.

Sec. 7-71. - Legislative findings; declaration of intent to repair, close or demolish unfit dwellings. The city council hereby finds that dwellings exist within the city which are unfit for human habitation due to dilapidation, defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or due to other conditions rendering such dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, or dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety or morals, or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the city. The city council hereby declares its intent to exercise its police powers to repair, close or demolish such dwellings. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-72 Definitions.

Sec. 7-72. - Definitions. The following words and terms wherever used and referred to in this article shall have the following respective meanings for the purpose of the article, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context: Authorized officer. The term "authorized officer" shall be taken to mean the public safety and housing officer or their designee. Dwelling. The word "dwelling" shall be taken to mean any building, structure or part thereof, used and occupied for human habitation or intended to be so used, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith. Governing body. The term "governing body" shall mean the city council. Living room. The term "living room" shall be taken to mean a room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, or cooking purposes, excluding bathroom, toilet-room, laundries, pantries, foyers or community corridors, closets and storage spaces. Municipality. The word "municipality" shall be taken to mean the city. Occupant. The word "occupant" shall be taken to mean any person(s) living and sleeping, either or both, in a dwelling or rooming unit. Operator. The word "operator" shall be taken to mean any person who has charge, care or control of a building or part thereof in which dwelling units and/or rooming units are let. Owner. The "owner" shall be taken to mean the holder of the title in fee simple and every mortgagee of record. Parties in interest. The term "parties in interest" shall be taken to mean all individuals, associations, corporations and others who have interest of record in a dwelling and any who are in possession thereof. Public authority. The term "public authority" shall be taken to mean any housing authority or any officer who is in charge of any department or branch of the government of the city or the state relating to health, fire, building regulations, or to other activities concerning dwellings in the city. Public officer. The term "public officer" shall be taken to mean the public safety and housing officer who is authorized by this article to exercise the power prescribed by this article and by S.C. Code 1976, §§ 31-15-10 through 31-15-120, and any amendments thereto. Unsafe equipment. The term "unsafe equipment" shall be taken to mean any boiler, heating equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device, flammable liquid containers or other equipment on the premises or within the dwelling which is in such disrepair or condition that such equipment is a hazard to life, health, property or safety of the public or occupants of the premises or dwelling. Unsafe dwelling. The term "unsafe dwelling" shall be taken to mean a dwelling that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of the dwelling by not providing the minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire, or because such dwelling contains unsafe equipment or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation, that partial or complete collapse is possible. Where terms are not defined in this article and are defined in the building code as adopted pursuant to state law, they shall have the meanings ascribed to them as in the building code. Where terms are not defined under the provisions of this article or under the provisions of the building code, they shall have ascribed to them their ordinarily accepted meanings or such as the context herein may imply. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-73 Construction of article.

Sec. 7-73. - Construction of article. Nothing in this article shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers of the court or of any department of the city to enforce any provisions of its chapter or its ordinances or regulations, nor to prevent or to punish violations thereof; and the powers conferred by this article shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other ordinance or law. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-74 Public safety and housing officer—Designated.

Sec. 7-74. - Public safety and housing officer—Designated. The chief building official shall be the public safety and housing officer. The fact that the designated person might also serve the city in some other capacity shall not, in itself, disqualify that person from otherwise serving as the public safety and housing officer. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the public safety and housing officer to enforce the provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-75 Same—Powers and duties generally.

Sec. 7-75. - Same—Powers and duties generally. The public safety and housing officer is hereby authorized to exercise such powers as may be necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this article, including the following powers in addition to others hereinbefore and hereinafter granted: (1) To investigate the dwelling conditions in the city in order to determine which dwellings therein are unfit for human habitation; (2) To administer oaths, affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive evidence; (3) To enter upon premises for the purpose of making examinations, provided that such entries shall be made in such manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession; (4) To appoint and fix the duties of such officers, agents, and employees as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this article; and (5) To delegate any of his functions and powers under this article to such officer and agents as he may designate. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-76 Funds for examination and investigation; examination, investigations and enforcement; appropriations, grants and donations.

Sec. 7-76. - Funds for examination and investigation; examination, investigations and enforcement; appropriations, grants and donations. The city council shall prepare an estimate of the annual expenses or costs to provide the equipment, personnel and supplies necessary for periodic examinations and accept and apply grants or donations to assist it in carrying out the provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-77 Failure to comply with lawful notice or order.

Sec. 7-77. - Failure to comply with lawful notice or order. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dwelling unit unfit for human habitation under the provisions of this article to fail to comply with any notice or order to repair, vacate or demolish such dwelling issued by any person authorized by this article to issue such notice or order. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-78 Injuring, removing, or defacing posted notices.

Sec. 7-78. - Injuring, removing, or defacing posted notices. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or deface any notice posted on any dwelling by any authorized officer under the terms of this article. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-79 Receipt of rental payments after expiration of time limit in notice or order.

Sec. 7-79. - Receipt of rental payments after expiration of time limit in notice or order. It shall be unlawful for any person, individually or as the representative of any person, to demand or receive rent payments after the expiration of any time limit set forth in any notice or order issued by the public safety and housing officer for any period during which a dwelling has been declared unfit for human habitation. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-80 Interference with enforcement of article.

Sec. 7-80. - Interference with enforcement of article. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, individually or as the representative of any person, to interfere in any way with the enforcement of any of terms or provisions of this article. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person, individually or as the representative of any person, to cause a reduction in services or utilities, to increase rents or cause rents to be increased, in retaliation for any tenant's reporting of a violation of this article. (c) It shall be unlawful for any person, individually or as the representative or agent of any person, to allow a vacant dwelling which has been declared unfit for human habitation to be used or occupied during any period in which the public safety and housing officer has found such vacant dwelling to be unfit for human habitation and of which notice is given to the owner or his agent. (d) It shall be unlawful for any person, individually or as the representative of any person, to evict or cause to be evicted any inhabitant or tenant in retaliation for reporting a violation of this article to the public safety and housing officer or any other public authorities. (e) It shall be unlawful for any person to enter a dwelling unit which has been declared unfit for human habitation except for the purpose of making the required repairs or demolishing such structure. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-81 Damaging facilities in unfit dwellings.

Sec. 7-81. - Damaging facilities in unfit dwellings. It shall be unlawful for any person individual, or as the representative of any person, to damage, mutilate or remove, or cause to be damaged, mutilated or removed, any of the facilities in a dwelling, as referred to in this article or the code adopted by this article. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 7-82 Violations.

Sec. 7-82. - Violations. It shall be unlawful for any person, individually or as the representative of any person, to violate any of the terms or provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 2010-110, § 1, 7-20-10)

Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH7BUBURE_ARTIVHO_DIV1GEFetched: 11/7/2026