How many days does a landlord have to return a security deposit in South Carolina?

South Carolina law gives landlords 30 days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a) (30-day itemized notice and forwarding-address condition); § 27-40-410(b) (treble penalty).

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in South Carolina?

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a) (30-day itemized notice and forwarding-address condition); § 27-40-410(b) (treble penalty), allowed deductions generally include accrued unpaid rent and damages the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with s.c. code § 27-40-510. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

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South Carolina security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in South Carolina

Your landlord has 30 days under South Carolina law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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When did you move out?

This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.

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South Carolina security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

30 days

Statute

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a) (30-day itemized notice and forwarding-address condition); § 27-40-410(b) (treble penalty)

30 days measured from the LATEST of three events: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, AND demand by the tenant. The tenant's DEMAND is an operative statutory trigger, so a demand letter may be what starts the clock rather than what enforces an expired one. Any deduction must be itemized in a written notice to the tenant together with the amount due. FORFEITURE TRAP FOR TENANTS: the tenant SHALL provide the landlord in writing with a forwarding or new address. If the tenant fails to do so, the tenant is NOT ENTITLED TO DAMAGES under this subsection, provided the landlord (1) had no notice of the tenant's whereabouts and (2) mailed the written notice and any amount due to the tenant's last known address. Screen for a written forwarding address before asserting the 3x claim.

What can a landlord legally deduct in South Carolina?

Allowed

✓Accrued unpaid rent
✓Damages the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with S.C. Code § 27-40-510

Not allowed

✗Normal wear and tear

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in South Carolina?

Verbatim from § 27-40-410(b): if the landlord fails to return any prepaid rent or security deposit with the notice required by subsection (a), the tenant may recover the property and money in an amount equal to THREE TIMES the amount wrongfully withheld and reasonable attorney's fees. CONFIRMED BY READING THE TEXT: there is NO willfulness element — the remedy turns on failure to comply, not landlord intent. But it is defeated by the tenant's own failure to give a written forwarding address under the (a) proviso. Separately, § 27-40-410(c): a landlord renting more than four adjoining units who applies different deposit standards to different tenants must post or provide a statement of those standards before the rental agreement; failure means the difference between this tenant's deposit and the lowest deposit required of any comparable unit is not subject to damage deductions.

How TenantNex helps

1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
2. We generate a demand letter citing S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a) (30-day itemized notice and forwarding-address condition); § 27-40-410(b) (treble penalty) and your exact deadline.
3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.

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South Carolina tenant rights resources

HUD — tenant rights and resources
Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
Key statute: S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a) (30-day itemized notice and forwarding-address condition); § 27-40-410(b) (treble penalty) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.

Every fact on this page is verified against South Carolina's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in South Carolina.

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Your money is due back

30 days

South Carolina law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.

If they wrongfully withhold

up to 3× your deposit

Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a) (30-day itemized notice and forwarding-address condition); § 27-40-410(b) (treble penalty) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04

Your 30 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 3× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.

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We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.

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Option	Price	Effort	Follow-up
Do it yourself	—	All of it	You chase
TenantNex	$39	Done for you	We chase
Small-claims services	$149–448	—	—
Hire an attorney	$300–2,000+	—	—

An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.

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Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days

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TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.