# S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-370: SECTION 50-23-370. Expiration and renewal > South Carolina · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-370 ## Section - **Citation:** S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-370 - **Heading:** SECTION 50-23-370. Expiration and renewal - **Jurisdiction:** South Carolina - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** SC Code / Title 50 / Chapter 23 / Article 3 / Section 50-23-370 ## Text (A) Except as otherwise provided, a certificate of number awarded pursuant to this chapter continues in effect for one year unless sooner terminated or discontinued in accordance with this chapter. A certificate of number may be renewed by the owner as provided in subsection (B). The department shall fix a month of the year on which certificates of number expire unless renewed pursuant to this chapter. (B)(1) Beginning January 1, 2020, each county auditor annually shall mail watercraft certificate of number renewal notices to the owners of watercraft in the county as determined by the Department of Natural Resources no later than forty-five days before expiration of the certificate. The renewal notices, including the fees upon completion, must be returned to that county which shall: (a) process the application and, if granting the renewal, notify the department to issue a renewed certificate and decal; (b) transmit the processed renewal notices to the department within seven days; and (c) transmit the fees, including any late fees, to the appropriate state fund. (2) Each county auditor must have access to the motorboat titling and registration records of the department as applicable to the county auditor in the manner the county auditor and department agree for the purpose of the county auditor performing the functions required in item (1). (3) The department may not charge counties for online access network fees for watercraft and owner information. (4) If a certificate of number is not approved immediately by the department, an owner may operate under a paid tax receipt for thirty days. (C)(1) A renewal application for a certificate of number, except those from marine dealers, presented after thirty days from its expiration date is subject to a late penalty of fifteen dollars. (2) A renewal application for a certificate of number presented after sixty days from its expiration date is subject to a late penalty of thirty dollars. Editor's Note 1999 Act No. 124, SECTION 2.T, provided for the transfer of the sections from Article 3, Chapter 21 where this section was numbered SECTION 50-21-370. 2018 Act No. 223, SECTION 5.B, provides as follows: "B. (A) Beginning January 1, 2020, the provisions of SECTION 5.A. of this act will be phased in over a three-year period as certificates of number expire. Any certificate of number awarded prior to January 1, 2020, will remain in effect for the full three-year term unless terminated or discontinued by the Department of Natural Resources. Certificates of number awarded after January 1, 2020, will become effective on an annual basis. Full implementation of SECTION 5.A. of this act begins on December 31, 2022. "(B) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the provisions of this act result in only one tax payment due per boat, boat motor, or watercraft in any twelve-month period. All interpretation and implementation of this act should be consistent with this intent." Effect of Amendment The 2008 amendment, in subsection (A), in the third sentence deleted "due to" preceding "expire" and "during the calendar year lapse and are not in effect" preceding "unless renewed"; deleted subsection (B) relating to issuance of a certificate of number for demonstration and testing purposes; redesignated subsection (C) as subsection (B); and, in subsection (D), deleted the subsection designation and the first two sentences, and made the third sentence an undesignated paragraph under subsection (B). 2018 Act No. 223, SECTION 5.A, rewrote the section, providing for the issuance of renewal notices and processing of renewals by county auditors and making renewals annual instead of every three years. ## Nearby sections - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-310 SECTION 50-23-310. Numbering of vessels.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-310.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-320 SECTION 50-23-320. Exceptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-320.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-330 SECTION 50-23-330. Conformity to United States Government numbering system.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-330.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-340 SECTION 50-23-340. Application for and issuance of number and certificate; fee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-340.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-345 SECTION 50-23-345. Temporary certificate of number.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-345.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-350 SECTION 50-23-350. Issuance of certificates of number by agents.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-350.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-360 SECTION 50-23-360. Display of number.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-360.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-370 SECTION 50-23-370. Expiration and renewal.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-370.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-375 SECTION 50-23-375. Display of number or decal on watercraft or outboard motor other than that for which it was issued.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-375.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-380 SECTION 50-23-380. Transfer of registration upon change of ownership; fee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-380.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-385 SECTION 50-23-385. Houseboats with waste-holding tanks; indefinite mooring; waste pump-out.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-385.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-400 SECTION 50-23-400. Notice of change of address.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-400.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-420 SECTION 50-23-420. Display of hull identification number.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-420.md) - [S.C. Code Ann. § 50-23-425 SECTION 50-23-425. Denial of renewal of registration; proof of payment of property taxes on watercraft.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-425.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SC_T50_C23_A3_S50-23-370. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.