South Carolina § 23-9-150 - "Unsafe buildings" defined; procedure for procuring the repair or demolition of unsafe buildings.

§ 23-9-150. "Unsafe buildings" defined; procedure for procuring the repair or demolition of unsafe buildings.

All buildings or structures referred to in Section 23-9-20, except single-family dwellings, duplexes or one-story rooming houses, which are unsafe or not provided with adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise dangerous to human life, or which in relation to existing use constitute a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment are, severally in contemplation of this section, unsafe buildings. The use and occupancy of all such unsafe buildings is hereby declared illegal and such unsafe conditions shall be corrected by repair, rehabilitation or demolition in accordance with the following procedure:

(1) Whenever the State Fire Marshal shall find any building or structure or portion thereof to be unsafe, as defined in this section, he shall give the owner, agent or person in control of such building or structure written notice, stating the defects found to exist. The notice shall require the owner within a reasonable time as determined by the marshal to either complete specified repairs or improvements, or to demolish and remove the building or structure, or unsafe portion thereof. If necessary, such notice shall also require the building, structure or portion thereof to be vacated forthwith and not reoccupied until the specified repairs and improvements are completed, inspected and approved by the State Fire Marshal.

(2) The marshal shall cause to be posted at each entrance to such building a notice as follows: "THIS BUILDING IS UNSAFE AND ITS USE OR OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN PROHIBITED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL." Such notice shall remain posted until the required repairs are made or demolition is completed. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, or its agents, to remove such notice without written permission of the State Fire Marshal, or for any person to enter the building except for the purpose of making the required repairs or demolishing such building.

(3) The owner, agent or person in control of any building subject to repair may appeal any decision of the Fire Marshal to an administrative law judge, as provided under Article 5 of Chapter 23 of Title 1. Emergency decisions of the fire marshal are not stayed pending appeal.

(4) If the owner, agent or person in control of a property cannot be found within the stated time limit or, if such owner, agent or person in control shall after notice fail, neglect or refuse to comply with notice to repair, rehabilitate, demolish or remove the building or structure or portion thereof, the State Fire Marshal shall cause such building, structure or portion thereof to be vacated and secured.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 37-82.11; 1972 (57) 2598; 1990 Act No. 535, SECTION 2; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 350.

Editor's Note

Section 23-9-40, previously referenced in the first undesignated paragraph, was repealed by 2022 Act No. 170, SECTION 12. See, now, Section 23-9-20.