No person may possess any firearm in or on:

• The grounds of the South Carolina state capitol or within the capitol building (those authorized to park on the capitol grounds or in the parking garage below the capitol grounds must leave their gun within a locked vehicle in a location within the vehicle not readily accessible);¹

• Elementary or secondary school property, except law enforcement and personnel authorized by school officials.². This does not apply to firearms inside an attended or locked vehicle secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.³
• Any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, other post-secondary institution, or in any publicly-owned building, without the express permission of the authorities in charge of the premises or property;⁴ This does not apply to interstate highway rest facilities, or when the firearm remains inside an attended or locked vehicle and is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.⁵

Firearms are generally permitted in a business which sells alcoholic liquor, beer or wine for consumption on the premises. However, a property owner, holder of the lease interest, or operator of the business may post a ‘NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED’ sign, or request that the person leave or remove the firearms from the premises. This prohibition on concealable firearms does not apply to a person otherwise lawfully carrying a firearm who does not consume alcoholic liquor, beer or wine while carrying a concealable weapon on the premises.⁶

Persons are prohibited from possessing a firearm at any park or facility under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (“Department”), except:

• Anyone in an area specifically designated by the Department for the use of firearms;

• A licensed hunter during hunting season with an unloaded firearm in a case or the trunk of a vehicle.⁷ In designated game management areas, hunters may use firearms for hunting in the manner authorized by law;⁸ or
• A person carrying a concealable weapon, either openly or concealed.

An inmate of a state correctional facility or local detention facility is prohibited from carrying a firearm on his or her person or willfully concealing a firearm within any Department of Corrections facility or other place of confinement.⁹

An innkeeper may refuse or deny any accommodations, facilities, or privileges of a lodging establishment to a person whom the innkeeper reasonably believes is bringing in firearms,¹⁰ and may eject such a person from the lodging establishment.¹¹

No handgun may be carried into any:

• law enforcement, correctional, or detention facility;
• courthouse or courtroom;
• polling place on election days;
• office of or the business meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special purpose district;
• school or college athletic event not related to firearms;
• daycare facility or preschool facility;
• place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law;
• church or other established religious sanctuary unless express permission is given the appropriate church official or governing body;
• hospital, medical clinic, doctor’s office, or any other facility where medical services or procedures are performed unless expressly authorized by the employer;
• residence or dwelling place or another person without the express permission of the owner or the person in legal control or possession of the property
• place clearly marked with a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealable weapon on the premises.¹²

No state law prohibits people from carrying long guns openly into these locations, however.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned location restrictions, public and private employers retain the right to prohibit individuals from carrying a concealable weapon upon the premises of the business or work place, or while using any machinery, vehicle, or equipment owned or operated by the business.¹³ Moreover, private property owners or persons in legal possession or control of private property have the right to allow or prohibit the carrying of a concealable weapon upon their premises.¹⁴ The posting of a sign stating “No Concealable Weapons Allowed” by the employer, owner, or person in legal possession or control of the property constitutes notice that the employer, owner, or person in legal possession or control requests that concealable weapons not be brought upon the premises or into the work place.¹⁵

Permit holders are allowed to possess a firearm at an interstate highway rest area facility.¹⁶

A governing body of a county, municipality, or political subdivision may temporarily restrict the otherwise lawful open carrying of a firearm on public property when it issues a permit to allow a public protest, rally, fair, parade, festival, or other organized event.¹⁷

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1. S.C. Code Ann. § 10-11-320.[↩]
2. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-430.[↩]
3. Id.[↩]
4. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-420(A).[↩]
5. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-420(A), (F) [↩]
6. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-465.[↩]
7. S.C. Code Ann. § 51-3-145(G). See also S.C. Code Ann. § 51-13-80(A)(7) (prohibiting the carrying of a firearm on the Riverbanks Park property).[↩]
8. Id.[↩]
9. S.C. Code Ann. § 24-13-440.[↩]
10. S.C. Code Ann. § 45-2-30(A)(4).[↩]
11. S.C. Code Ann. § 45-2-60(4).[↩]
12. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-20.[↩]
13. S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-220(1).[↩]
14. S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-220(2).[↩]
15. Id. Sign requirements for notice purposes are detailed under S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-235.[↩]
16. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-23-420(F).[↩]
17. S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-520(A).[↩]