South Carolina · SC · updated 2026
In South Carolina, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days
Quick answer
A South Carolina landlord has 30 calendar days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under South Carolina security deposit law, a South Carolina landlord has 30 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends. By statute, South Carolina sets no statutory cap on how much a landlord can charge. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 30 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact South Carolina deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a South Carolina landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (South Carolina requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
Tenant may recover the property and money equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees.
How to get your deposit back in South Carolina
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common South Carolina deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- South Carolina requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in South Carolina?
- In South Carolina, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in South Carolina?
- South Carolina statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my South Carolina landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. South Carolina requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a South Carolina landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. South Carolina does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my South Carolina landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- Tenant may recover the property and money equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Landlord must itemize deductions and return the deposit within 30 days of termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, and tenant's demand (whichever is latest). Deductible: unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear. No cap, no move-in checklist, no interest required.