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Read. Follow. Verify.South Carolina Bill Removes Restricted Delivery Requirement for Property Tax Default and Redemption Notices
Last action · February 11, 2026: Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 41)Sponsor: Cal Forrest
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What This Bill Would Do
South Carolina House Bill 5157 removes the requirement for 'certified mail, restricted delivery' when sending property tax default notices and expiration notices, replacing it with standard certified mail with return receipt requested.
Property owners and mortgagees facing tax defaults or the end of property s will receive statutory notices via standard certified mail rather than restricted delivery, altering how delivery confirmation and receipt are legally handled.
- South Carolina property tax sales are governed by Chapter 51 of Title 12 of the S.C. Code, which outlines default procedures, notices, and redemption periods. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Defaulting property taxpayers
They will receive property tax default and redemption notices via standard certified mail instead of restricted delivery.
County tax collection officials
They are responsible for mailing delinquent tax and redemption notices under the updated certified mail standard.
Mortgagees and lessees of record
Notices regarding the approaching end of property redemption periods will be delivered to them via standard certified mail rather than restricted delivery.
Key Facts
- H. 5157 amends Section 12-51-40(b) of the South Carolina Code of Laws to remove the requirement for 'certified mail, return receipt requested - restricted delivery' for delinquent property tax notices sent to real property owners and grantees of record.
- For entity addressees in default, notices must be mailed to their last known post office address by certified mail, return receipt requested, under Section S912.
- H. 5157 amends Section 12-51-120 to remove the restricted delivery requirement for notices sent to defaulting taxpayers, grantees, mortgagees, or lessees regarding the approaching end of the redemption period.
- The return of a certified mail notice as 'undelivered' remains invalid as grounds for withholding, setting aside, or canceling a tax title.
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- The act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes about how property tax default notices are mailed?
Does an undelivered notice stop a tax title from being issued?
When does this change take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journal-page 41)
- Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced and read first time (House Journal-page 41)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.scstatehouse.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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