S.C. Code Ann. § 31-1-200

Regulation of limited dividend housing companies

In Force
Verified 10/20/2026 · Next check 10/27/2026
effective 10/16/2026South CarolinaInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

S.C. Code Ann. § 31-1-200
In pursuance of its power to supervise and regulate the operations of limited dividend housing companies incorporated under this chapter the Secretary of Commerce may:

(1) order any such corporation to make, at its expense, such repairs and improvements as will preserve or promote the health and safety of the occupants of buildings and structures owned or operated by such corporations;

(2) order all such corporations to do such acts as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the law, the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Commerce or the terms of any project approved by the Secretary of Commerce or to refrain from doing any acts in violation thereof;

(3) examine all such corporations and keep informed as to their general condition, their capitalization and the manner in which their property is constructed, leased, operated or managed;

(4) either through its members or agents duly authorized by it, enter in or upon and inspect the property, equipment, buildings, plants, offices, apparatus and devices of any such corporation, examine all books, contracts, records, documents and papers of any such corporation and by subpoena duces tecum compel the production thereof;

(5) in its discretion prescribe uniform methods and forms of keeping accounts, records and books to be observed by such corporations and prescribe by order accounts in which particular outlays and receipts shall be entered, charged or credited;

(6) require every such corporation to file with the Secretary of Commerce an annual report setting forth such information as the Secretary of Commerce may require, verified by the oath of the president and general manager or receiver, if any, thereof or by the person required to file such report, such report to be in the form, cover the period and be filed at the time prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce;

(7) require specific answers to questions upon which the Secretary of Commerce may desire information and require such corporation to file periodic reports in the form covering the period and at the time prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce; and

(8) from time to time make, amend and repeal rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this chapter.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 31-1-200 of the South Carolina Code establishes a broad supervisory framework under which the Secretary of Commerce holds authority over limited dividend housing companies chartered under Chapter 1 of Title 31. The provision empowers the Secretary to order repairs that protect occupant health and safety, inspect corporate records and physical property, mandate standardized accounting practices, and require regular and special-purpose reporting. It also grants rulemaking authority, allowing the Department of Commerce to create, modify, or rescind regulations needed to carry out the chapter's purposes.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 16, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators of limited dividend housing companies subject to S.C. Code Ann. § 31-1-200 generally maintain their properties in a condition that meets health and safety standards, since the Secretary of Commerce may order repairs at the corporation's own expense. Compliant operators keep accurate books and records in whatever format the Department of Commerce prescribes, respond fully to information requests, and submit annual and periodic reports verified under oath. Staying current with any rules or regulations issued under subsection (8) is also part of routine compliance, as those rules carry the same force as the statute itself.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Residents living in housing owned or operated by a limited dividend housing company may find it useful to know that S.C. Code Ann. § 31-1-200 gives the Secretary of Commerce authority to order that corporation to make repairs necessary to preserve health and safety. If conditions in such a building appear to fall short of those standards, the Department of Commerce is the state-level body with oversight and inspection authority under this provision. Tenants seeking to understand their options can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with South Carolina housing law to learn about available complaint or enforcement pathways.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 16, 2026
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References Out

No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

S.C. Code Ann. § 31-1-620

Related Rules

§ 14.544
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
§ 14.545
STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUISANCE PREVENTION
§ 14.546
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES

Source Information

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