South Carolina § 31-24-120 - Manufacturing or industrial facilities; public or private nuisance; transferability and waiver of protected status.

§ 31-24-120. Manufacturing or industrial facilities; public or private nuisance; transferability and waiver of protected status.

(A) A manufacturing or industrial facility, or expansion of such a facility, may not be found to be a public or private nuisance by reason of the operation of that facility if the manufacturing or industrial facility:

(1) is operating pursuant to and in compliance with the requisite licenses, permits, certifications, or authorizations under the applicable federal and state environmental laws and county and municipal zoning and nuisance ordinances; and

(2) commenced operations before the landowner alleging the nuisance acquired, moved onto, or improved the affected property.

(B) If a manufacturing or industrial facility protected pursuant to the provisions of this section seeks to expand its operations or facility and maintain its protected status, then the manufacturing or industrial facility may reasonably expand its operation or facilities without losing its protected status if it is in compliance with all county, municipal, state, and federal environmental codes, laws, or regulations at the time of expansion. This protected status of a manufacturing or industrial facility, once acquired:

(1) is assignable, alienable, and inheritable, provided the manufacturing or industrial facility is operating for the same use as when it commenced operations as provided in subsection (A)(2) or a reasonable expansion thereof as provided in this subsection; and

(2) may not be waived by the temporary cessation of operation for a period not to exceed two years or by diminishing the size of the operation.

HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 132 (H.3653), SECTION 1, eff February 12, 2018.