Up to $7,500 · 3 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In South Carolina, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Magistrate Court, where you can sue for up to $7,500.
Your deadline: South Carolina generally gives you 3 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $80 (About $80 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: S.C. Code § 22-3-10; deadlines: S.C. Code § 15-3-530. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: General civil limit 3 yrs for contract, property damage, and personal injury.
Suing for something else in South Carolina: South Carolina unpaid loan · South Carolina property damage · South Carolina unpaid rent · South Carolina contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: North Carolina ($10,000, 3 years) · Georgia ($15,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026