York County, South Carolina Eviction Risk: Low

York County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.5/10 (Low), placing it among the most landlord-favorable markets in South Carolina eviction laws. Out of 46 counties statewide, only 3 score lower, meaning 42 others carry more risk for investors and operators. Across the county's 15 cities, the average renter pays $1,334 per month, renter-occupied units make up roughly 30% of households, and the rent-burden rate sits at 31.5%, all figures that point to a relatively stable tenant pool by state standards.

That said, "York County" is not a monolith. Individual city scores span from 3 to 4.7, a 1.7-point range that translates to meaningfully different operating conditions depending on which submarket you target. Landlords sourcing deals across the county should treat that spread seriously, since a portfolio concentrated in the wrong cities can face materially higher eviction exposure than the county average suggests.

The cities inside York County

The highest-risk city in the county is the city of York, scoring 4.7/10, with a population of roughly 8,969. Close behind are Clover (4.5/10, population 7,234) and Catawba, which also scores 4.5/10. These smaller cities tend to have lower household incomes and thinner rental markets, which compounds delinquency risk when a tenant runs into financial trouble.

On the opposite end, Rock Hill, the county's largest city at a population of 75,259, scores just 3/10, one of the most landlord-friendly readings in the entire state. Fort Mill (4.2/10, population 30,775) and Baxter Village (3.3/10, population 4,542) illustrate how dramatically conditions shift even within a single county. Investors who concentrate holdings in Rock Hill or Baxter Village are working with a substantially different risk profile than those in York or Clover. Risk here is hyper-local, and city-level due diligence is not optional.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in York County operates under S.C. Code § 27-40 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent, South Carolina eviction laws law requires a 5-day written notice before filing. Lease violations with an opportunity to cure carry a 14-day notice, while no-cause terminations at the end of a lease term require 30 days. Once you file, an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested proceeding can stretch to 45 to 100 days. Understanding the full South Carolina eviction laws eviction process before your first case is worth the time investment.

Filing fees run $110 to $200, sheriff lockout fees add $25 to $100, and attorney fees, if you use counsel, typically run $500 to $2,500. South Carolina eviction costs can therefore reach several thousand dollars once attorney time is factored in on a contested case. South Carolina eviction laws imposes no rent control and does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state preempts any local rent regulation, so landlords countywide operate under a uniform, owner-friendly framework on those dimensions. Landlords should also review South Carolina security deposit limits and South Carolina tenant protections under § 27-40 to ensure compliance on habitability and entry-notice requirements, including the mandatory 24-hour advance notice before entering an occupied unit.

With a poverty rate of 9.8% and renters making up 30% of households, York County's tenant base is comparatively stable for South Carolina eviction laws, and the city-by-city grid above shows exactly where within the county that risk concentrates.