How to Sell a House With Code Violations in South Carolina

Receiving a code violation notice from your city or county can feel like a nightmare. The fines pile up, the repair estimates are overwhelming, and suddenly your property feels like an anchor instead of an asset. If you own a house with code violations in South Carolina, here's what you need to know — and how to sell it without fixing everything first.

Common Code Violations in SC

South Carolina municipalities enforce building codes to maintain safety and property standards. The most common violations we see:

• Structural issues — foundation cracks, sagging roofs, deteriorating load-bearing walls
• Electrical problems — outdated wiring (knob-and-tube or aluminum), missing GFCI outlets, overloaded panels
• Plumbing violations — galvanized pipes, improper venting, failing septic systems
• Overgrown property — tall grass, debris, abandoned vehicles (common in Columbia and Greenville municipal codes)
• Unpermitted work — additions, decks, or renovations done without building permits
• Fire safety — missing smoke detectors, blocked egress windows, no fire-rated separation in multi-family
• Occupancy violations — too many unrelated tenants, illegal apartments, commercial use in residential zones

What Happens If You Ignore Code Violations?

In South Carolina, ignoring code violations can escalate quickly:

• Daily fines — many municipalities charge $50-500 per day per violation
• Liens on the property — unpaid fines become liens that must be cleared before selling
• Condemnation — severe violations can lead to the property being condemned, making it illegal to occupy
• Forced demolition — in extreme cases, the city can demolish the structure and bill you for it
• Criminal charges — repeated violations can result in misdemeanor charges in some SC jurisdictions

Can You Sell a House With Code Violations?

Yes. South Carolina does not prohibit the sale of properties with code violations. However, there are important considerations:

• Disclosure required: SC law requires sellers to disclose known material defects, which includes active code violations
• Liens must be addressed: Any code violation liens must be paid at closing from the proceeds
• Most traditional buyers run: When a home inspection reveals code violations, conventional buyers typically walk away or demand massive price reductions
• Banks may refuse to finance: Lenders often won't approve mortgages for properties with safety-related code violations

Your Best Option: Sell As-Is to a Cash Buyer

Cash buyers like Campos Property Solutions are the ideal solution for properties with code violations because:

• No inspections required: We don't need a bank to approve the purchase, so there's no inspection contingency to derail the deal
• We buy as-is: Code violations, structural issues, electrical problems — we've seen it all and buy anyway
• We handle liens: We work with the municipality to resolve or settle outstanding code violation fines as part of the transaction
• Fast closing: Get out from under the daily fines quickly

Steps to Sell Your Code Violation Property

1. Gather your violation notices — know what violations exist and any fines that have accrued
2. Contact us — call 803-307-4860 or fill out our form. Be upfront about the violations (we appreciate honesty and it speeds up the process)
3. We evaluate — we research repair costs, lien amounts, and market value to calculate a fair offer
4. Get your cash offer — within 24-48 hours, we present a no-obligation cash offer that accounts for the violations
5. Close and move on — we handle lien payoffs, municipality coordination, and all paperwork

Cities We Help Most With Code Violations

We regularly buy code violation properties in:

• Columbia — City of Columbia code enforcement is active in neighborhoods like Eau Claire, Olympia, and Northeast Columbia
• Greenville — Nicholtown, Sans Souci, and West Greenville see frequent enforcement
• Charleston — Historic district violations can be especially complex and expensive
• Spartanburg — Northside redevelopment area properties frequently have accumulated violations

Stop the Fines — Sell Today

Every day you wait, fines can keep accruing. Call Campos Property Solutions at 803-307-4860 for a fast cash offer on your code violation property. We'll help you resolve the situation and move on.