Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2013 Session > Title 48

The South Carolina Legislative Council is offering access to the unannotated South Carolina Code of Laws on the Internet as a service to the public. The unannotated South Carolina Code on the General Assembly's website is now current through the 2013 session. The unannotated South Carolina Code, consisting only of Code text, numbering, and history, may be copied from this website at the reader's expense and effort without need for permission.

The Legislative Council is unable to assist users of this service with legal questions. Also, legislative staff cannot respond to requests for legal advice or the application of the law to specific facts. Therefore, to understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult your own private lawyer regarding all legal questions.

While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the unannotated South Carolina Code available on the South Carolina General Assembly's website, the unannotated South Carolina Code is not official, and the state agencies preparing this website and the General Assembly are not responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur in these files. Only the current published volumes of the South Carolina Code of Laws Annotated and any pertinent acts and joint resolutions contain the official version.

Please note that the Legislative Council is not able to respond to individual inquiries regarding research or the features, format, or use of this website. However, you may notify Legislative Printing, Information and Technology Systems at [email protected] regarding any apparent errors or omissions in content of Code sections on this website, in which case LPITS will relay the information to appropriate staff members of the South Carolina Legislative Council for investigation.





SECTION 48-35-10. Starting fire in woodlands, grasslands, and other places unlawful unless certain precautions are taken.

It shall be unlawful for any owner or lessee of land or any employee of such owner or lessee or other person to start, or cause to be started, a fire in any woodlands, brushlands, grasslands, ditchbanks, or hedgerows or in any debris, leaves or other flammable material adjacent thereto, except under the following conditions:

(a) Proper notification shall be given to the State Forester, or his duly authorized representative or other persons designated by the State Forester. The notice shall contain all information required by the State Forester or his representative.

(b) Such persons shall have cleared around the area to be burned and have immediately available sufficient equipment and personnel to adequately secure the fire and prevent its spread.

(c) The person starting the burning shall supervise carefully the fire started and have it under control prior to leaving the area.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 29-65.11; 1969 (56) 421.

SECTION 48-35-20. Authorization must be obtained from landowner to conduct burning.

A lessee of any land, or any employee of any landowner or lessee of land, or other person, must receive prior authorization from the landowner to conduct such burning, in addition to complying with the other provisions of this chapter.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 29-65.12; 1969 (56) 421.

SECTION 48-35-30. Chapter inapplicable to fires within municipalities.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to fires which may be started within the corporate limits of any town or city.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 29-65.13; 1969 (56) 421.

SECTION 48-35-40. Burning prohibited during periods of emergency.

No burning shall be carried out during any period which the Governor has declared that an emergency exists in connection with forest fires.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 29-65.14; 1969 (56) 421.

SECTION 48-35-50. State Forester may prohibit fires.

The State Forester may direct at any time, when deemed necessary in the interest of public safety, that fires covered by this chapter not be started.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 29-65.15; 1969 (56) 421.

SECTION 48-35-60. Penalties.

Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days. For any second or subsequent offense, a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than three hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than six months may be imposed in the discretion of the court. "Subsequent offense," as used in this section, shall mean an offense committed within ten years of a previous offense.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 29-65.16; 1969 (56) 421.