Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2003 Session > Title 27

This statutory database is current through the 2003 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2004, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2004 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.




SECTION 27-1-10. Real estate made liable for debts, duties and demands.

Houses, lands and other hereditaments and real estate situated or being within this State, belonging to any person indebted, (a) shall be liable to and chargeable with all just debts, duties and demands, of whatever nature or kind soever, owing by any such person, (b) shall and may be assets for the satisfaction thereof and (c) shall be subject to the like remedies, proceedings and process as personal estates.

SECTION 27-1-15. Recovery of attorney fees and interest on claims for improvement of real estate.

Whenever a contractor, laborer, design professional, or materials supplier has expended labor, services, or materials under contract for the improvement of real property, and where due and just demand has been made by certified or registered mail for payment for the labor, services, or materials under the terms of any regulation, undertaking, or statute, it is the duty of the person upon whom the claim is made to make a reasonable and fair investigation of the merits of the claim and to pay it, or whatever portion of it is determined as valid, within forty-five days from the date of mailing the demand. If the person fails to make a fair investigation or otherwise unreasonably refuses to pay the claim or proper portion, he is liable for reasonable attorney's fees and interest at the judgment rate from the date of the demand.

SECTION 27-1-20. Surveyors appointed where title to lands shall be in dispute.

If any cause be pending in any circuit court or within its jurisdiction wherein the title or boundaries of lands shall be brought into dispute, the judge of the court shall appoint surveyors at the nomination of the parties, to survey such lands, at the charge of such parties, and to return such survey, on oath, at the next sitting of the court.

SECTION 27-1-30. Surveyors appointed where title to lands shall be in dispute; nomination by court.

In case either of the parties shall refuse to nominate a surveyor duly sworn and qualified, the court shall proceed to nominate two or more such surveyors, as it shall think fit, in order for the better finding out and discovering the truth of the matter in difference. If the court shall acquiesce in the return of the surveyors so given in on oath as aforesaid it shall be allowed as evidence.

SECTION 27-1-40. Party walls in cities and towns.

Every person who shall erect in a city or town any building with brick shall have liberty to set half his partition wall on his next neighbor's ground, providing he leave a toothing in the corner of such wall for his neighbor to adjoin unto.

SECTION 27-1-50. Party walls in cities and towns; expense.

When the owner of such adjoining land shall build, he shall pay for one half of such partition wall, so far as he makes use of it.

SECTION 27-1-60. Right of homeowner or tenant to fly United States flag; restrictive covenants and rental agreements; definitions.

(A) Regardless of any restrictive covenant, declaration, rule, contractual provision, or other requirement concerning flags or decorations found in a deed, contract, lease, rental agreement, or homeowners' association document, any homeowner or tenant may display one portable, removable United States flag in a respectful manner, consistent with 36 U.S.C. Sections 171-178, as amended, on the premises of the property of which he is entitled to use.

(B)(1) No homeowners' association document may preclude the display of one portable, removable United States flag by homeowners. However, the flag must be displayed in a respectful manner, consistent with 36 U.S.C. Sections 171-178, as amended.

(2) No restrictive covenant in a deed may preclude the display of one portable, removable United States flag on the property. However, the flag must be displayed in a respectful manner, consistent with 36 U.S.C. Sections 171-178, as amended.

(3) No rental agreement, lease, or contract may preclude the display of one portable, removable United States flag on the premises of any tenant. However, the flag must be displayed in a respectful manner, consistent with 36 U.S.C. Sections 171-178, as amended.

(C) For purposes of this section:

(1) "homeowner" means a person who holds title to real property, in fee simple or otherwise including, but not limited to, an owner of real property subject to a homeowners' association, an owner of an interest in a vacation time sharing plan, and a co-owner under a horizontal property regime;

(2) "homeowners' association" has the same meaning as provided in Section 12-43-230;

(3) "homeowners" association document' includes, but is not limited to, declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, bylaws, or any similar document concerning the rights of property owners to use their property; and

(4) "tenant" means any tenant under a rental agreement executed pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 27, any tenant under a rental agreement executed pursuant to Chapter 47, Title 27, any tenant under a vacation time sharing plan, any tenant under a horizontal property regime, and any person who leases commercial or residential real property under a contractual agreement.