Do you need a license to be a property manager in South Carolina?

South Carolina has a separate property manager license: managing property for others needs the property manager license, issued by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. Leasing apartments for others generally needs a license too. The exact wording, with any exceptions, is below.

Managing property for others"It is unlawful for an individual to act as a real estate broker, real estate associate, or real estate property manager or to advertise or provide services as such without an active, valid license issued by the commission. ... (29) "Property manager" means a supervised licensee who meets educational requirements and passes the examination for a property manager license, and who will for a fee, salary, commission, other valuable consideration or with the intent or expectation of receiving compensation: (a) negotiate or attempt to negotiate the rental or leasing of real estate or improvements to the real estate; (b) list or offer to list and provide a service in connection with the leasing or rental of real estate or improvements to the real estate; or (c) advertise or otherwise represent to the public as being engaged in an activity in subitems (a) and (b)" official source
On-site and employee exemptions"An unlicensed employee of the owner of a multiunit rental property or an unlicensed individual who works under the supervision of a licensee is permitted to perform only the following duties: (1) maintenance; (2) clerical or administrative support; (3) collection of rents that are made payable to the owner or real estate company; (4) showing rental units to prospective tenants; ... (6) providing applications and lease forms; and (7) receiving applications and leases for submission to the owner or the licensee for approval." "For all types of real estate transactions, including leases and sales, an unlicensed employee of the owner or an unlicensed individual working under the supervision of a broker-in-charge or a property manager-in-charge may not: (1) discuss, negotiate, or explain a contract, listing agreement, buyer agency agreement, lease, agreement, property management agreement, or other real estate document; ... (3) approve applications or leases or settle or arrange the terms and conditions of a lease;" "The management of each residential multiunit rental location must be provided by an on-site licensee or an off-site licensee if there is no on-site staff." "This chapter does not apply to: (1) the sale, lease, or rental of real estate by an unlicensed owner of real estate who owns any interest in the real estate if the interest being sold, leased, or rented is identical to the owner's legal interest;" official source
Leasing agents"(a) negotiate or attempt to negotiate the rental or leasing of real estate or improvements to the real estate; (b) list or offer to list and provide a service in connection with the leasing or rental of real estate or improvements to the real estate; ... (5) conduct or host an open house or manage an on-site sales or leasing office;" official source
Licensing agencySouth Carolina Real Estate Commission official source
CredentialProperty manager license official source

Checked against official South Carolina sources on Oct 27, 2026. This is not legal advice: rules change and exemptions depend on who employs you, so confirm with the licensing agency. This page lists only what we could confirm on an official page.

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