S.C. Code Ann. § 6-1-150 – Derelict mobile homes; removal and sale

(A) For purposes of this section:
1. (1) "Derelict mobile home" means a mobile home:
  1. (a) that is:
    1. (i) not connected to electricity or not connected to a source of safe potable water supply sufficient for normal residential needs, or both;
    2. (ii) not connected to a Department of Health and Environmental Control approved wastewater disposal system; or
    3. (iii) unoccupied for a period of at least thirty days and for which there is clear and convincing evidence that the occupant does not intend to return on a temporary or permanent basis; and
  2. (b) that is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, or vermin-infested that it creates a hazard to the health or safety of the occupants, the persons using the mobile home, or the public.
2. (2) "Landowner" means the owner of real property on which a derelict mobile home is located.
3. (3) "Local governing body" means the governing body of a county or municipality.
4. (4) "Local official" means the office or agency that is responsible for inspecting or zoning property in a county or a municipality.
5. (5) "Mobile home" means a structure, not including a modular home, designed for temporary or permanent habitation and constructed to permit its transport on wheels, temporarily or permanently attached to its frame, from its place of construction or sale to a location where it is intended to be a housing unit or a storage unit. For purposes of this section only, "mobile home" includes both mobile and manufactured homes.
(B)
1. (1) If a landowner seeks to have a mobile home removed from his property and sold, the landowner may apply to a magistrate and follow the procedures in Section 29-15-10. The landowner does not have to have the mobile home determined to be a derelict mobile home in order to have it removed from his property and sold following the procedures of Section 29-15-10.
2. (2) If a landowner seeks to have a mobile home determined to be derelict so it may be removed from the landowner's property and destroyed, the landowner must:
  1. (a) apply to the local official to have the mobile home inspected;
  2. (b) receive written confirmation from the local official that the mobile home has been inspected and meets the requirements for removal and disposal and provided in this section;
  3. (c) file the required pleadings with the magistrate to seek to have the mobile home removed from the property and destroyed, and follow the procedures in Section 29-15-10 to notify the owner of the mobile home and any lienholders that the local official has determined the mobile home is a derelict mobile home and that the matter is the subject of a proceeding in the magistrates court; and
  4. (d) post a notice on each door of the mobile home for thirty consecutive days reading substantially as follows:
    "NOTICE
    This mobile home is the subject of a proceeding in the magistrates court to determine if it will be removed from this property. For further information, please contact: (name and telephone number of landowner seeking removal) or (name and telephone number of magistrates court where action is pending).
    (Date of Notice)"
3. (3) If, in a court proceeding with the proper notice, the magistrate determines that the mobile home is derelict, as provided in this section, and orders the derelict mobile home to be removed and destroyed, the landowner must remove and dispose of the derelict mobile home and send proof of the removal and disposal to the county auditor as provided in Section 12-49-85(D).
(C)
1. (1) If a local official determines that a derelict mobile home has value for which it may be sold, the local official may apply to a magistrate and follow the procedures in Section 29-15-10 to notify the owner of the mobile home and any lienholders that the local official has determined the mobile home is a derelict mobile home and has filed the required pleadings with the magistrate to seek to have the mobile home removed from the property and sold.
2. (2) If a local official seeks to remove and destroy a derelict mobile home, the local official must follow the procedures in Section 29-15-10 to notify the owner of the mobile home and any lienholders that the local official has determined the mobile home is a derelict mobile home and has filed the required pleadings with the magistrate to seek to have the mobile home removed from the property and destroyed.
3. (3) In addition to the notice requirements in the magistrates court, in order to (a) remove and sell, or (b) remove and destroy a derelict mobile home, a local official must post a notice on each door of the mobile home for thirty consecutive days reading substantially as follows:
  "NOTICE
  This mobile home is the subject of a proceeding in the magistrates court to determine if it will be removed from this property. For further information, please contact: (name and telephone number of local government office seeking removal) or (name and telephone number of magistrates court where action is pending).
  (Date of Notice)"
4. (4) In a court proceeding with the proper notice, a magistrate must determine whether a derelict mobile home may be either (a) removed and sold, or (b) removed and destroyed. In order for the mobile home to be removed and destroyed, it must meet the requirements of a derelict mobile home as defined in this section.
5. (5) If the magistrate determines that the mobile home is derelict and is to be removed and sold, the local official must follow the procedures in Section 29-15-10.
6. (6) If the magistrate determines that the mobile home is derelict and is to be removed and destroyed, the local official or the landowner must remove and dispose of the derelict mobile home and send proof of the removal and disposal to the county auditor as provided in Section 12-49-85(D).
(D)
1. (1) All costs of removal and disposal are the responsibility of the owner of the derelict mobile home, and may be waived only by order of the magistrates court or if a local governing body has a program that covers removal and disposal costs.
2. (2) A lienholder of the derelict mobile home is not responsible for the costs of removal and disposal unless the lienholder or his agent effects a recovery of the mobile home under its lien and subsequently the lienholder or his agent knowingly abandons the mobile home on the property and allows the mobile home to become a derelict mobile home.
3. (3) If the landowner is the owner of the derelict mobile home and is unwilling or unable to pay the costs of removal and disposal, a lien for the costs of removal and disposal may be placed on the landowner's real property where the derelict mobile home was located.
(E) To defray the costs of location, identification, and inspection of derelict mobile homes, a local governing body may impose a registration fee of no more than twenty-five dollars to be paid when a manufactured home or mobile home is registered with the county or municipality. This fee may be in addition to all other fees and charges relating to a manufactured home or mobile home and may be required to be paid before electrical connection.