Eviction in Beaufort County, South Carolina
Where eviction cases are filed in Beaufort County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Beaufort County
- Eviction court
- Beaufort County Magistrate Court (Rule to Vacate / ejectment) — Magistrate (Summary) Court Court page
- Filing fee
- $45 total filing fee ($20 filing, $10 service, $5 mailing, $10 S.C. Code 22-3-340 fee); notary $2 if needed; Writ of Ejectment $10. Beaufort County Magistrate Court - Plaintiff's Directions for Filing an Ejectment (Eviction)
- Notice before filing (state law)
- If rent is unpaid and not paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord may terminate after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate. If the written lease contains the statutory notice language in bold, conspicuous type, the lease itself serves as the notice. South Carolina rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,816/month HUD
- Renter households
- 19,806 (24% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28
Where eviction cases are filed in Beaufort County
Eviction cases in Beaufort County are heard by the Beaufort County Magistrate Court (Rule to Vacate / ejectment) (Magistrate (Summary) Court).
- Beaufort Magistrate — 104 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902 ((843) 255-5700) · website
- Bluffton Magistrate — 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 2nd Floor, Bluffton, SC 29910 ((843) 255-5610) · website
Court eviction page · Self-help center
The Magistrate Court posts separate civil filing forms for its Beaufort and Bluffton offices. The landlord files an Application for Ejectment (original plus three copies, three more per extra defendant) with four copies of the lease or 30-day notice; papers are served by a Sheriff's Deputy and the tenant must vacate or appear at the Rule to Show Cause hearing. The landlord must notify the court in writing if the tenant leaves or the case should be dismissed.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Beaufort County
$45 total filing fee ($20 filing, $10 service, $5 mailing, $10 S.C. Code 22-3-340 fee); notary $2 if needed; Writ of Ejectment $10.
From the court's official directions PDF (undated). The court's Civil Court Information page confirms the $10 Writ of Ejectment fee. The application must be notarized; the court can notarize it for an added fee if the landlord is present.
Source: Beaufort County Magistrate Court - Plaintiff's Directions for Filing an Ejectment (Eviction)
How eviction cases work locally
| Verbal leases | With no written lease, the landlord must first give 30 days' written notice to vacate and attach the letter and the returned certified-mail receipt to the application. Source: Official source |
|---|---|
| Reopening a case | In Rule to Vacate (eviction/ejectment) cases, parties have five calendar days to request a motion to reopen. Source: Official source |
The South Carolina eviction process
South Carolina state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Beaufort County:
- Notice: 5-day nonpayment notice (or conspicuous lease clause) / 14-day breach notice / 30-day month-to-month notice (§§ 27-40-710, 27-40-770, 27-37-10)
- Landlord applies to the magistrate; magistrate issues a Rule to Vacate or Show Cause (§ 27-37-20)
- Tenant has 10 days after service to vacate or request a hearing/show cause (§ 27-37-20); posting-and-mail service allowed after two failed personal attempts (§ 27-37-30)
- If tenant does not respond, warrant/writ of ejectment issues (§ 27-37-40); if contested, hearing (jury on demand) (§ 27-37-60)
- If the tenant raises defenses, rent must be paid into court (§ 27-40-790)
- Writ of ejectment executed by sheriff/constable; occupants given 24 hours to leave before forcible removal (§ 27-37-160)
- Appeal to circuit court stays ejectment only if the tenant files an affidavit to pay rent as it comes due (§ 27-40-800, rewritten by 2026 Act 252, eff. June 30, 2026)
Full South Carolina eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Beaufort County
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Beaufort County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,582 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,657 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,816 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,177 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,720 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Beaufort County: $1,653/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; eviction procedure follows state law. City rules, if any, are on city pages.
Other South Carolina counties
- Eviction in Greenville County (Greenville)
- Eviction in Richland County (Columbia)
- Eviction in Charleston County (Charleston, North Charleston)
- Eviction in Horry County (Myrtle Beach)
- Eviction in Spartanburg County (Spartanburg)
- Eviction in York County (Rock Hill)
- Eviction in Lexington County (Lexington)
- Eviction in Berkeley County
- Eviction in Anderson County
- Eviction in Florence County
- Eviction in Aiken County
- Eviction in Dorchester County
- Eviction in Pickens County
Related
- South Carolina landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in South Carolina
- South Carolina eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in South Carolina (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Beaufort County?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Beaufort County?
What is the fair market rent in Beaufort County?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.