South Carolina
South Carolina Video Recording Laws: Where You Can and Cannot Record (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited November 1, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of November 1, 2026. · 8 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
In South Carolina, open video recording is generally legal wherever people lack a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as public streets, sidewalks, and parks; inside government buildings, rules vary by facility. Secretly recording someone for a sexual purpose in a private space such as a bathroom is voyeurism under S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470. When your video also captures audio, one-party consent applies under S.C. Code Ann. 17-30-30.
South Carolina law does not have a single comprehensive statute governing all video recording. Instead, the legality of video recording depends on where you are filming, whether you are capturing audio along with video, and the purpose of the recording. Public spaces are generally open to filming, while private spaces are protected by both the wiretapping statute and the voyeurism law.
This guide explains the rules that apply to video recording across different settings in South Carolina, including the criminal penalties you face for violations and how courts treat video evidence.
Video Recording in Public Spaces
General Rule: Public Filming Is Legal
South Carolina has no statute that prohibits video recording in public spaces. You are free to record video on:
- Public streets, sidewalks, and crosswalks
- Public parks and recreational areas
- Public areas of government buildings, subject to each facility's rules
- Public transportation facilities
- Public protests, rallies, and demonstrations
- Outdoor areas visible from public vantage points
Eight federal appeals courts (the First, Second, Third, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits) have held that the First Amendment protects recording police officers doing their jobs in public, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner limits. In the Fourth Circuit, which includes South Carolina, Sharpe v. Winterville Police Department (2023) held that livestreaming a police traffic stop is speech protected by the First Amendment; the officer in that case still received qualified immunity, and the court did not decide whether there is a broader right to record police in public. The Supreme Court has not ruled on the question.
Video Without Audio vs. Video With Audio
An important distinction exists in South Carolina law between video-only recording and video with audio:
Video-only recording in public does not implicate the wiretapping statute at S.C. Code Ann. 17-30-20. The wiretapping law specifically covers "wire, oral, or electronic communications." Video footage that does not capture oral communications falls outside its scope.
Video with audio recording is subject to the one-party consent rule under S.C. Code Ann. 17-30-30. If your video captures conversations, you must be a party to the conversation or have consent from at least one participant to comply with the wiretapping statute.
In public spaces where people do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, even audio recording is generally permissible because the wiretapping statute only protects "oral communications" made with a reasonable privacy expectation.
Recording on Government Property
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-10 et seq.) requires most government meetings to be open to the public. You can bring recording equipment to:
- City and county council meetings
- School board meetings
- Planning and zoning hearings
- State boards, commissions, and agencies
- Other public hearings and government proceedings
Under S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-90(c), anyone attending a meeting of a public body may record all or part of it by audio or video, as long as the recording does not actively interfere with the conduct of the meeting. Closed sessions held under 30-4-70 may not be recorded. Outside public meetings, such as in courtrooms and offices, each facility sets its own rules.
Video Recording on Private Property
Property Owner Rights
Private property owners in South Carolina have broad authority to control video recording on their premises. A business, homeowner, or property manager can:
- Prohibit all video recording on their property
- Require visitors to put away cameras and phones
- Ask someone to leave if they refuse to stop recording
- Post signs stating that recording is not permitted
Recording itself is not trespass. If the owner asks you to leave because you will not stop recording and you refuse to go, you may face trespassing charges under S.C. Code Ann. 16-11-620, which criminalizes entering or remaining on property after being warned not to or after being asked to leave. The property owner does not need to cite a specific recording law because their authority comes from general property rights.
Recording in Your Own Home
You can install video cameras in your own home in South Carolina. However, certain limitations apply:
- Common areas such as living rooms, kitchens, and hallways can be monitored with video cameras
- Private areas such as bathrooms, bedrooms used by guests, and changing areas should not be recorded, as this may violate the voyeurism statute
- Audio capture is subject to one-party consent rules. If you are not present during recorded conversations, capturing audio may violate the wiretapping statute
- Tenant rights apply if you rent out part of your home. You cannot place cameras in areas where tenants have a reasonable expectation of privacy
Recording in Rented or Leased Properties
If you rent a home or apartment, you generally can install video cameras inside your own unit in common areas. You should not install cameras that capture footage of other tenants' private spaces. A landlord who hides a camera inside a tenant's unit risks criminal charges under the voyeurism law (S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470) or, if it records conversations, the wiretap law (S.C. Code Ann. 17-30-20), as well as a civil invasion-of-privacy lawsuit.
South Carolina's Voyeurism Statute: S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470
What the Law Prohibits
South Carolina's voyeurism law at S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470 makes it illegal to engage in peeping, voyeurism, or eavesdropping. Specifically, the statute prohibits:
- Peeping and eavesdropping (subsection (A)) on or about the premises of another, such as peeping through windows or doors to spy on the people inside, including with video or audio equipment
- Voyeurism (subsection (B)): knowingly viewing, photographing, or recording someone, without their knowledge and consent and for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire, while they are in a place where they would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The statute defines that as a place where a reasonable person would expect to undress without being filmed, or a place where one would reasonably expect to be safe from hostile intrusion or surveillance.
- Aggravated voyeurism (subsection (C)): knowingly selling or distributing a recording made in violation of the statute
Penalties for Voyeurism
| Offense | Classification | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| First offense peeping/voyeurism | Misdemeanor | Up to 3 years in prison and/or up to $500 fine |
| Second or subsequent voyeurism offense | Felony | Up to 5 years in prison and/or $500-$5,000 fine |
| Aggravated voyeurism (selling or distributing the recording) | Felony | Up to 10 years in prison and/or $500-$5,000 fine |
Any conviction under S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470, including simple peeping, is a Tier I offense that requires sex offender registration (S.C. Code Ann. 23-3-430(C)(1)(e)). A Tier I offender may apply to end registration after 15 years (23-3-462).
Where You Cannot Record Video
Secretly recording someone in the places below invites a voyeurism charge when it is done for a sexual purpose, and civil privacy claims in any case, so do not record video in places such as:
- Bathrooms and restrooms
- Locker rooms and changing rooms
- Fitting rooms in retail stores
- Hotel rooms and bedrooms (without occupant consent)
- Anywhere someone is in a state of undress and expects privacy
The 2025 Intimate Images Law: S.C. Code Ann. 16-15-332
Background
On May 12, 2025, Governor Henry McMaster signed S.C. Code Ann. 16-15-332 into law. South Carolina had been the last state in the country without a law specifically addressing the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, sometimes referred to as "revenge porn."
What the Law Covers
The statute makes it a crime to intentionally share an intimate image of another person without their effective consent, when the sharer knew or reasonably should have known it was made or obtained where the person had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Key provisions include:
- First offense without intent to harm: Misdemeanor, up to $5,000 fine and 1 year in prison
- Second or subsequent offense without intent to harm: Felony, up to $5,000 fine and 5 years in prison
- First offense with intent to cause harm, or for profit: Felony, up to $5,000 fine and 5 years in prison
- Second or subsequent offense with intent to cause harm, or for profit: Felony, 1 to 10 years in prison (the 1-year minimum cannot be suspended or replaced with probation) and up to $10,000 fine
- AI-generated deepfakes: The law covers digitally forged or AI-altered images that falsely depict someone in intimate situations
This law applies to both images and video. Recording intimate content with consent but later distributing it without consent is now a criminal offense in South Carolina.
Civil Remedies
The 2025 criminal law does not itself create a lawsuit. A separate 2026 law, the Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act (S.C. Code Ann. 15-75-310 to -370, effective May 15, 2026, for claims arising on or after that date), lets an identifiable person sue someone who intentionally disclosed, or threatened to disclose, a private intimate image of them without consent. A court can award actual damages or statutory damages of up to $10,000 per defendant, whichever is greater, plus any profit the defendant made, punitive damages as allowed by state law, attorney's fees, and an injunction. A suit over a disclosure generally must be filed within three years of when it was discovered or should have been discovered (four years from a threat), and the clock does not start for a minor until age 18.
Video Recording and Law Enforcement
Recording Police Officers
In the Fourth Circuit, which includes South Carolina, Sharpe v. Winterville Police Department (2023) held that livestreaming a police traffic stop is speech protected by the First Amendment; the officer in that case still received qualified immunity, and the court did not decide whether there is a broader right to record police in public. Eight other federal appeals courts have held that the First Amendment protects recording police in public, so openly recording officers from a public place is widely treated as protected, but no binding Fourth Circuit or South Carolina decision settles a general right to record.
People commonly record:
- Traffic stops, including your own
- Arrests happening in public
- Officer interactions at public events
- Police activity visible from public spaces
Limitations: You must not physically interfere with police operations, obstruct an officer's duties, or trespass to obtain a better recording angle. If an officer asks you to move back from an active scene, comply with reasonable requests.
Police Body Camera Footage
South Carolina's Law Enforcement Body Camera Act (S.C. Code Ann. 23-1-240) governs how police departments use body-worn cameras. Under this law:
- Agencies must use body cameras under guidelines from the Law Enforcement Training Council, which cover when cameras must be worn and activated and how footage is retained and released
- An agency is not required to implement body cameras until it has received full funding
- Data recorded by a body-worn camera is not a public record subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act
- Law enforcement agencies must establish written policies for body camera use
Instead, the law names who is entitled to footage: SLED, the Attorney General, and a circuit solicitor for any legitimate criminal justice purpose; a law enforcement agency for an internal misconduct or disciplinary investigation; and, under the state's rules of criminal or civil procedure or a court order, the person who is the subject of the recording, a criminal defendant or civil litigant in a related case, a person whose property was seized or damaged in connection with the recording, a parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated subject, and attorneys for those people. An ordinary Freedom of Information Act request does not entitle a member of the public to body camera footage. Separately, the law enforcement agency, SLED, the Attorney General, or a circuit solicitor may release footage in its discretion (S.C. Code Ann. 23-1-240(G)(3)), so footage can become public even without a legal entitlement to it.
Using Video Recordings as Evidence
Admissibility Standards
Video recordings are admissible as evidence in South Carolina courts if they meet the following requirements:
Authentication. The offering party must demonstrate that the video is an accurate representation of what it purports to show. This can be done through testimony from the person who made the recording, testimony from someone who witnessed the events depicted, or through technical evidence about the recording device and its reliability.
Relevance. The video must be relevant to a material issue in the case.
No unfair prejudice. Under Rule 403 of the South Carolina Rules of Evidence, a court may exclude video evidence if its prejudicial effect substantially outweighs its probative value.
Chain of custody. For criminal cases, the prosecution must typically establish a chain of custody showing that the video has not been tampered with since it was recorded.
Video Evidence in Specific Contexts
- Personal injury cases: Surveillance video and dashcam footage are routinely admitted in personal injury and automobile accident cases
- Criminal cases: Security camera footage, body camera footage, and bystander recordings are commonly used as prosecution evidence
- Family court: Video recordings documenting a parent's behavior may be admitted in custody proceedings
- Employment disputes: Workplace video may be used to support claims of harassment, discrimination, or unsafe conditions
Drones and Aerial Video Recording
Current South Carolina Law
South Carolina does not have a comprehensive drone privacy statute, but several laws apply to drone operations:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations govern where and how drones can fly. The FAA requires registration for drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds and imposes altitude and airspace restrictions.
- Local ordinances in some South Carolina cities and counties may restrict drone operations in certain areas.
- Voyeurism laws still apply to drone-mounted cameras. Using a drone to record someone in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy could violate S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470.
- Trespass law may apply if a drone is flown at very low altitudes over private property.
Best Practices for Drone Recording
If you operate a drone with a camera in South Carolina:
- Follow all FAA regulations and obtain necessary certifications
- Do not fly over private property at low altitudes to capture footage of people in private settings
- Avoid recording through windows or into fenced backyards
- Be aware that capturing audio from a drone may implicate the wiretapping statute if the audio captures private conversations
Bills That Did Not Pass
Bill 3042: Updated Voyeurism Statute
Bill 3042 in the 2025-2026 legislative session would have updated S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470 to cover AI-generated deepfake images and increase penalties for voyeurism-related offenses. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on January 14, 2025, never advanced, and did not become law in the 2025-2026 session.
Bill 4675: Surveillance Regulation
Bill 4675, the South Carolina Community Data Protection and Responsible Surveillance Act, would have barred state and local entities from surveillance systems that store data on third-party servers or use automated systems to track vehicles, such as license plate camera networks. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on January 13, 2026, never advanced, and did not become law in the 2025-2026 session.
Practical Guidelines for Video Recording in South Carolina
When You Can Record Video
- In any public space where you have a right to be
- On your own property (with privacy limitations for guest areas)
- At public government meetings and hearings
- During interactions with police officers in public, from a distance and without interfering (widely treated as protected, though not settled by a binding Fourth Circuit ruling)
- For security purposes on your business premises
When You Cannot Record Video
- In private areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy (bathrooms, changing rooms, locker rooms)
- On private property after the owner tells you to stop (the owner can then ask you to leave, and refusing to leave without good cause can be trespass under S.C. Code Ann. 16-11-620)
- Using hidden cameras to capture intimate images without consent (voyeurism when done for a sexual purpose)
- Through windows or other openings into private dwellings
- Using drones to surveil private spaces from above
South Carolina Recording Law Sub-Topics
Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism Laws | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | School Recording | Medical Recording
Back to South Carolina Recording Laws
More South Carolina Recording Topics
More South Carolina Laws
- South Carolina AI Meeting Recording Laws
- South Carolina Dashcam Laws
- South Carolina Data Privacy Laws
- South Carolina Deepfake Laws
- South Carolina Employee Monitoring Laws
- South Carolina GPS Tracking Laws
- South Carolina Police Bodycam Laws
- South Carolina Smart Glasses Recording Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to record video in public in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina has no law prohibiting video recording in public spaces. You can openly film on public streets, in parks, and at public events. Inside government buildings, rules vary by facility, though you may record open public meetings. Video-only recording in public does not fall under the state wiretapping statute, which covers oral and wire communications. If your video also captures audio of private conversations, one-party consent rules apply.
Can I record video on someone else's private property in South Carolina?
It depends on the owner's rules. Private property owners can prohibit video recording and ask you to leave if you refuse to stop. Refusing to leave after being asked could result in trespassing charges under S.C. Code Ann. 16-11-620. Some businesses and venues post signs prohibiting recording.
What are the penalties for video voyeurism in South Carolina?
Video voyeurism is punished under S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-470. A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to 3 years in prison. A second or subsequent voyeurism offense is a felony with up to 5 years in prison. Selling or distributing the unlawfully made recording is aggravated voyeurism, a felony with up to 10 years in prison. Every conviction under the statute, including simple peeping, requires sex offender registration as a Tier I offense.
Is it illegal to share intimate videos without consent in South Carolina?
Yes. Since May 2025, S.C. Code Ann. 16-15-332 makes it a crime to distribute intimate or sexually explicit images or video without the depicted person's consent. Without intent to harm, a first offense is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in prison and $5,000 fine) and a repeat offense is a felony (up to 5 years and $5,000). Sharing with intent to cause harm, or for profit, is a felony even on a first offense (up to 5 years and $5,000), and a repeat offense of that kind carries 1 to 10 years, with the 1-year minimum mandatory, and up to $10,000. The law also covers AI-generated deepfakes.
Can I install security cameras on my property in South Carolina?
Yes. You can install video security cameras on your own property in South Carolina. Cameras should be pointed at your own property and common areas, not at neighbors' private spaces. You should avoid placing cameras in areas where guests or household members have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms and bedrooms. If cameras capture audio, one-party consent rules apply.
Updates
Noted that refusing to leave is trespass under S.C. Code 16-11-620 only when done without good cause or excuse.
Clarified that on private property the legal risk is refusing to leave when the owner asks, which is trespass, not the recording itself.
Clarified that under S.C. Code 16-11-620 the trespass offense is refusing to leave private property when asked, not the act of recording.
We corrected the page's account of the right to record police in South Carolina, restated the voyeurism elements (a sexual purpose and lack of knowledge and consent), fixed the registration rule (every conviction requires it), added the top penalty tier of the 2025 intimate-images law, replaced the civil-remedy paragraph with the 2026 civil law and its deadline, narrowed the government-buildings and landlord statements, and marked two 2025-2026 bills as not enacted. We corrected the body camera section to show that agencies, SLED, the Attorney General and solicitors may release footage in their discretion, and clarified that trespass exposure on private property comes from refusing to leave when asked.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the S.C. Code 16-17-470 voyeurism penalty table and matching FAQ answer. The felony tiers are triggered by a second-or-subsequent offense (5 years) and by selling/distributing the unlawfully made recording -- aggravated voyeurism (10 years) -- not by 'using a device' (which is intrinsic to the base offense definition) or by a minor victim (the statute has no separate minor-victim tier).
Corrected two errors: body-worn camera data is expressly NOT a public record under S.C. Code Ann. 23-1-240(G)(1) (access is limited to an enumerated list, not ordinary FOIA requests); and the refuse-to-leave trespass citation was corrected from S.C. Code Ann. 16-11-610 (a hunting/fishing/timber trespass statute) to 16-11-620 (the actual entering-after-warning/refusing-to-leave trespass statute).
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 16: CRIMES AND OFFENSES
§ 16-17-470Eavesdropping, peeping, voyeurismIn forcecited in 14 of our articles
(A) It is unlawful for a person to be an eavesdropper or a peeping tom on or about the premises of another or to go upon the premises of another for the purpose of becoming an eavesdropper or a peeping tom. The term "peeping tom", as used in this section, is defined as a person who peeps through windows, doors, or other like places, on or about the premises of another, for the purpose of spying upon or invading the privacy of the persons spied upon and any other conduct of a similar nature, that tends to invade the privacy of others. The term "peeping tom" also includes any person who employs the use of video or audio equipment for the purposes set forth in this section. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Cited in 8 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):United States v. Anthony Helton (2019) read the section's voyeurism subsection to require knowingly viewing a person without consent, where privacy is expected, for sexual arousal or gratification, and held that conviction a sex offense requiring federal registration. State v. Harris (1987) held peeping tom a crime of moral turpitude.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Holmes (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1995, 320 S.C. 259)✓At a capital murder trial the defense was barred from impeaching a jailhouse witness with his 1984 Peeping Tom conviction; the court held that was error because a section 16-17-470 violation is a crime of moral turpitude, but found the error harmless.
- State v. Harris (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1987, 293 S.C. 75)✓A man tried for assault with intent to commit sexual conduct with a minor was impeached with a prior Peeping Tom conviction; the court held the section 16-17-470 offense is a crime of moral turpitude, so using it to attack his credibility was proper.
- In re Parrott (Supreme Court of South Carolina 2017, 421 S.C. 105)“…ondent was arrested and charged with voyeurism pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 16-17-470 (B) (2015) after he used a cell phone t…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: South Carolina Smart Glasses Recording Laws 2026, South Carolina Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, South Carolina Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026)
§ 16-11-620Entering premises after warning or refusing to leave on request; jurisdiction and enforcementIn forcecited in 4 of our articles
Any person who, without legal cause or good excuse, enters into the dwelling house, place of business, or on the premises of another person after having been warned not to do so or any person who, having entered into the dwelling house, place of business, or on the premises of another person without having been warned fails and refuses, without good cause or good excuse, to leave immediately upon being ordered or requested to do so by the person in possession or his agent or representative shall, on conviction, be fined not more than two hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days. 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. 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.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Cited in 7 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Cross (Court of Appeals of South Carolina 1994, 323 S.C. 41)“…premises of another after having been requested to leave. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-11-620 (1976). An indictment will sustain a…”
- Wright v. United Parcel Service, Inc. (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1994, 315 S.C. 521)“…Walker, 152 S.C. 88 , 149 S.E. 331 (1929); cf. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-11-620 (1985) (statute imposing criminal liab…”
- In the Interest of Joseph B. (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1983, 278 S.C. 502)“…with trespassing upon the property of a public school under S. C. Code Ann. § 16-11-620 (Supp. 1981). He appeals, contending hi…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: South Carolina Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights and Limits (2026), South Carolina Laws on Recording in Public: Your Rights Explained (2026), South Carolina Disorderly Conduct, Breach of Peace and Trespass Laws
§ 16-15-332Disseminating intimate images without consentIn forcecited in 10 of our articles
(A) A person who intentionally disseminates an intimate image or a digitally forged intimate image of another person without the effective consent of the depicted person is guilty of the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images. A person intentionally disseminates an intimate image or a digitally forged intimate image if he has knowledge that the image was obtained or created under circumstances when he knew or reasonably should have known the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Any dissemination of multiple intimate images of the same individual as part of a common act is a single offense. The fact that the identifiable individual: (1) provided affirmative consent for the creation of the intimate image shall not establish that the individual provided effective consent for the dissemination of the intimate image; and (2) disclosed the intimate image to another individual shall not establish that the identifiable individual provided effective consent for the dissemination of the intimate image by the person alleged to have violated this section.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Also relied on in: South Carolina Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Rights for Renters and Landlords (2026), South Carolina Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Peeping, and Penalties (2026), South Carolina AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 17: CRIMINAL PROCEDURES
§ 17-30-20Prohibited actsIn forcecited in 9 of our articles
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, a person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished as provided in Section 17-30-50 of this chapter: (1) intentionally intercepts, attempts to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or attempt to intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communication; (2) intentionally uses, attempts to use, or procures any other person to use or attempt to use any electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept any oral communication when: (a) the device is affixed to or otherwise transmits a signal through a wire, cable, or other like connection used in wire communication; or (b) the device transmits communications by radio or interferes with the transmission of the communication; (3) intentionally discloses or attempts to disclose to any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication in violation of this subsection; (4) intentionally uses or attempts to use the contents of any wire, oral, or…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Ducharme v. Madewell Concrete LLC (District Court, D. South Carolina 2021)“…the intentional interception of electronic communications. S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-20; 18 U.S.C. § 2511. The critical inquir…”
- Carson v. Emergency MD LLC (District Court, D. South Carolina 2020)“…SCHSA’s list of prohibited acts require interception. See S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-20. The SCHSA defines “intercept” as “the…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: South Carolina Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules for Calls (2026), South Carolina Workplace Recording Laws: Employee and Employer Rights (2026), South Carolina AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)
§ 17-30-30Interception by employee of Federal Communications Commission, by person acting under color or law, and when party has given prior consentIn forcecited in 19 of our articles
(A) It is lawful under this chapter for an officer, employee, or agent of the Federal Communications Commission, in the normal course of his employment and in discharge of the monitoring responsibilities exercised by the commission in the enforcement of 47 U.S.C. Chapter 5, to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication transmitted by radio or to disclose or use the information thereby obtained. (B) It is lawful under this chapter for a person acting under color of law to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication, where the person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception. (C) It is lawful under this chapter for a person not acting under color of law to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication where the person is a party to the communication or where one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-24 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- McNeely (District Court, D. South Carolina 2025)“…a showing. The South Carolina statute cited by Plaintiff—S.C. Code § 17-30-30—provides “it is lawful . . . for a per…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: South Carolina Dashcam Laws: Mounting Rules, Audio Recording, and Evidence (2026), South Carolina Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights, HIPAA, and Consent (2026), South Carolina School Recording Laws: Student, Parent, and Teacher Rights (2026)
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 23: LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY
§ 23-1-240Body-worn cameras; definition; guidelines; policies and procedures; fund; data releaseIn forcecited in 8 of our articles
(A) For purposes of this section, "body-worn camera" means an electronic device worn on a person's body that records both audio and video data. (B) State and local law enforcement agencies, under the direction of the Law Enforcement Training Council, shall implement the use of body-worn cameras pursuant to guidelines established by the Law Enforcement Training Council. (C) Within one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this section, the Law Enforcement Training Council shall conduct a thorough study of the use, implementation procedures, costs, and other related aspects associated with body-worn cameras in jurisdictions with body-worn cameras currently in use or which begin their use during this period. The Law Enforcement Training Council shall develop guidelines for the use of body-worn cameras by state and local law enforcement agencies within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this act.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Also relied on in: Maryland Police Bodycam Laws (2026): Mandate, Retention & Access, South Carolina Police Body Camera Laws: Mandate & FOIA Exemption, South Carolina Police Reports: FR-10 vs. TR-310 and How to Get a Copy
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 30: PUBLIC RECORDS
§ 30-4-10Short titleIn forcecited in 5 of our articles
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Freedom of Information Act".
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at scstatehouse.gov
Cited in 33 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- City of Columbia v. American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina, Inc. (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1996, 323 S.C. 384)“…e South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-4-10 to -110 (1991 & Supp. 1994). Appellant…”
- Bellamy v. Brown (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1991, 305 S.C. 291)“…iality arising from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 — 110 (1991). We affirm. FACTS…”
- Weston v. Carolina Research & Development Foundation (Supreme Court of South Carolina 1991, 303 S.C. 398)“…Acting Associate Justices, concur. 1 S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 to § 30-4-110 (Supp. 1989).…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: South Carolina Freedom of Information Act: How to Request Public Records
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This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 17: CRIMINAL PROCEDURES § 17-30-10 (Interception of wire, electronic, or oral communications authorized) · South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 16: CRIMES AND OFFENSES § 16-17-10 (Barratry prohibited)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
Sources and References
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 17, Chapter 30 -- Interception of Wire, Electronic, or Oral Communications(scstatehouse.gov).gov
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 16, Chapter 17 -- Offenses Against Public Policy (Voyeurism)(scstatehouse.gov).gov
- Gov. McMaster Signs Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Bill Into Law (May 2025)(governor.sc.gov).gov
- South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, Title 30, Chapter 4(scstatehouse.gov).gov
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Body Camera Act (S.C. Code Ann. 23-1-240)(scstatehouse.gov).gov
- 2025-2026 Bill 3042: Eavesdropping, Peeping, and Voyeurism Updates(scstatehouse.gov).gov
- FAA Drone Registration and Rules(faa.gov).gov
- S.C. Code Ann. 15-75-310 to -370, Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act (2026 Act No. 131)(scstatehouse.gov).gov