South Carolina S 601: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, RELATING TO CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4698, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE. - ratified title

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 601 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 23, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 601

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 16-11-600, RELATING TO NOTICES OF TRESPASSING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT 
ENCLOSING LAND WITH A FENCE CONSTITUTES THE POSTING OF NOTICE; BY AMENDING 
SECTION 16-11-620, RELATING TO ENTERING PREMISES AFTER WARNING OR REFUSING TO 
LEAVE ON REQUEST, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO ENTER 
INTO A DWELLING HOUSE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, INVITATION, OR LEGAL CAUSE; AND BY 
AMENDING SECTION 16-11-640, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL ENTRY INTO ENCLOSED PLACES, SO 
AS TO PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO IS NOT AN OCCUPANT, OWNER, OR INVITEE FROM ENTERING 
ANY PRIVATE PROPERTY ENCLOSED BY WALLS OR FENCES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 16-11-600(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (B) The owner or tenant of any lands 
may accomplish the posting of notice as follows:

 (1) 
by posting a notice in four conspicuous places on the borders of such land 
prohibiting entry thereon; or

 (2) 
by enclosing the land with a fence; or

 (3) by marking boundaries with 
a clearly visible purple-painted marking, consisting of one vertical line not 
less than eight inches in length and two inches in width, and the bottom of the 
mark not less than three nor more than six feet from the ground or normal water 
surface. These marks must be affixed to immovable, permanent objects that are 
not more than one hundred yards apart and readily visible to any person 
approaching the property.

SECTION 2. Section 16-11-620 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
16-11-620. (A) It is unlawful for any person toAny 
person who, without authorization, invitation, or legal 
cause or good excuse, knowingly 
enters enter into 
the dwelling house, as defined by Section 16-11-10;, place of business;, or on the premises of another 
person after having been warned not to do so or any 
structure; or premises of another person.

 (B) It is unlawful for any 
person whoto, having 
entered into the dwelling house, as defined by Section 
16-11-10;, place of business;, structure; 
or premises of another person, or on the premises 
of another person without having been warned fails and refuses, without good cause or good excuselegal cause, to leave immediately upon being ordered or 
requested to do so by the person in possession or his agent or representative.

 (C) It is unlawful for any person to 
enter or remain in a dwelling house, as defined by Section 16-11-10;, place of 
business;, structure; or premises of another person after having been warned 
not to do so.

 (D) A person violating the provisions 
of this section shall, on conviction, for a first 
offense be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined 
not more than two hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty 
days; for a second offense, be fined not more than five 
hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than ninety days; for a third and 
subsequent offense, be fined not more than one thousand dollars and be 
imprisoned for not more than one year.

 (E) All municipal courts 
of this State as well as those of magistrates may try and determine criminal 
cases involving violations of this section occurring within the respective 
limits of such municipalities and magisterial districts. All 
peace officers of the State and its subdivisions shall enforce the provisions 
hereof within their respective jurisdictions.

 (F) The provisions of 
this section shall be construed as being in addition to, and not as 
superseding, any other statutes of the State relating to 
trespass or entry on lands of another.

SECTION 3. Section 16-11-640 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
16-11-640. It shall be unlawful for any person not an occupant, owner, or invitee to enter any private property enclosed by 
walls or fences with closed gates or any building as 
defined in Section 16-11-310 on private propertybetween 
the hours of six P.M. and six A.M. The provisions of this section shall 
not apply to any justifiable emergency entry or to 
premises which are not posted with clearly visible signs prohibiting trespass 
upon the enclosed premises. The provisions of this section are 
supplemental to existing law relating to trespass and punishment therefor. Any 
person who violates the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a 
misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than twenty-five 
dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than 
thirty days.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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