South Carolina § 40-19-270 - Permit for funeral establishment; funeral services in private residence, church, or lodge; inspection of premises; residence of funeral director; application for permits; partnership or corporation operating funeral establishment.

§ 40-19-270. Permit for funeral establishment; funeral services in private residence, church, or lodge; inspection of premises; residence of funeral director; application for permits; partnership or corporation operating funeral establishment.

(A) No person shall conduct, maintain, manage, or operate a funeral establishment, crematory, or retail sales outlet unless a permit for each establishment, retail sales outlet, or crematory has been issued by the board and is displayed conspicuously in the funeral establishment crematory, or retail sales outlet.

(B) The board or its inspector or agents may enter the offices or premises of a funeral establishment, funeral home, mortuary, branch funeral home, retail sales outlet, or crematory to inspect the premises or observe the training provided to apprentices. Acceptance of a permit constitutes permission for entry to the premises as provided in this section without legal process.

(C) No permit to operate a funeral establishment or crematory may be issued unless the funeral establishment or crematory has a manager when the establishment or crematory is open for any type of funeral business or activity. The board must be notified within thirty days upon the death, resignation, or incapacity of the manager of a funeral establishment or crematory as provided for in Regulation 57-10(c) and may issue a temporary permit to another manager upon terms and conditions the board considers to be in the best interest of the community in which the establishment or crematory is located.

(D) An application for a funeral establishment, crematory, or retail sales outlet permit must be made on forms furnished by the board and must be filed with the board accompanied by a fee established by the board in regulation. All permits expire on June thirtieth of each odd-numbered year.

(E) When more than one person proposes to engage in the operation of a funeral establishment or crematory as a partnership or a corporation, one of the partners or corporation officers must be a licensed funeral director or the corporation or partnership must employ a full-time manager. No partner or corporate officer shall hold himself out through advertising or otherwise as being a licensee unless the person is licensed in accordance with this chapter.

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 380, SECTION 1; 2002 Act No. 322, SECTION 7.