Property owners in North Charleston, South Carolina, now have a new way to handle trespassing problems when they are not on-site.
The North Charleston Police Department is implementing an Agent of Trespass agreement for commercial and residential property owners.
The agreement authorizes officers to enforce trespass laws on private property without requiring the owner, landlord, property manager, or another representative to be present.
For owners dealing with vacant homes, empty lots, after-hours businesses, wooded parcels, or repeat trespassing complaints, written authorization can help police act when no one connected to the property is nearby.
The Agreement Lets Officers Act When Owners Are Away
Under the program, officers may contact people found on enrolled private property and determine whether they have permission or another lawful reason to be there.
If someone is not authorized, officers can direct that person to leave. The department says people who refuse to leave, or who return after being told to leave, may be arrested for trespass after notice.
Vacant Lots and After-Hours Properties Are a Key Focus
NCPD says the agreement may be especially useful for businesses after operating hours, vacant buildings, vacant lots, wooded or undeveloped properties, and places where management is not consistently on-site.
The same problem can affect residential owners. A rental home between tenants, an inherited house, a parcel held for future construction, or a property owned by someone who lives elsewhere can attract problems before the owner knows anyone has been there.
A written agreement does not replace basic property upkeep. Owners should still keep signs visible, lighting working where possible, doors and windows secured, and emergency contact information current.
Owners Must Renew the Agreement Every Year
To enroll, a property owner or authorized representative must complete an Agent of Trespass form with an NCPD officer.
The department’s property letter says approved properties will be added to an internal police database that officers can access for enforcement purposes.
The agreement is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually. Participating properties must also display a clearly visible “No Trespassing” sign, and officers will verify that the agreement is current before taking enforcement action.
South Carolina Law Already Covers Trespass Warnings
South Carolina law says a person who enters a dwelling, business, or another person’s premises after being warned not to do so, or refuses to leave after being asked by the person in possession or that person’s agent, can face a fine of up to $200 or up to 30 days in jail on conviction.
The Agent of Trespass program does not prevent owners from making ordinary case-by-case trespass reports. It gives officers written authority to act faster when an unauthorized person is found on a listed property and the owner or manager is not there.