South Carolina call recording law
Is South Carolina a one-party consent state?
One-party consent
Yes. South Carolina is a one-party consent state. It is lawful under the state’s wiretap law for a person to record a call they are a party to, or one where a party has given prior consent (S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-30).
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 12 quoted facts from official pages
South Carolina at a glance
- Phone calls
- One-party consent
- Criminal penalty
- Unlawful interception is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both (§ 17-30-50).
- Lawsuits
- A person whose communication was unlawfully intercepted may recover actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages of $500 per day of violation or $25,000 (whichever is greater), plus punitive damages, a reasonable attorney's fee and costs, with a jury trial; suit must be filed within five years of a reasonable opportunity to discover the violation.
- Last checked
- October 13, 2026
The law
- S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-30 (interception with a party's consent is lawful) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-20 (prohibited acts) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-50 (penalties) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-135 (civil action) (official source, opens in a new tab)
Penalties
- Criminal
- Unlawful interception is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both (§ 17-30-50).
- Civil (lawsuits)
- A person whose communication was unlawfully intercepted may recover actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages of $500 per day of violation or $25,000 (whichever is greater), plus punitive damages, a reasonable attorney's fee and costs, with a jury trial; suit must be filed within five years of a reasonable opportunity to discover the violation.
What this means for a business that records calls
The same chapter prohibits causing a caller ID display to show a number that is not the number of the originating device, with exceptions for a person placing an authorized call on behalf of another who inserts a number identified with that other person, and for a communications service provider that delivers a call someone else originated (§ 17-30-20).
Callers can be in any state. The state-by-state table compares every state's rule, and the disclosure generator writes a plain notice sentence such as “This call may be recorded.” Whether a notice is enough under South Carolina's law is a question for a lawyer licensed in South Carolina.
Recording notices on CallFlux numbers
CallFlux plays a recording notice to callers on every tracking number that records, before the call connects.
What the official sources say
A private person who is a party, or has one party's prior consent, may lawfully intercept.
“It is lawful under this chapter for a person not acting under color of law to intercept ... where the person is a party”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
The lawful-interception rule also covers prior consent by one party.
“or where one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception.”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Intentionally intercepting a communication outside the exceptions is a felony.
“a person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of a felony”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
The felony includes intentionally intercepting any wire, oral or electronic communication.
“intentionally intercepts, attempts to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or attempt to intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communication;”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Penalty: up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
“must be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Civil liquidated damages: $500 per day or $25,000, whichever is greater.
“liquidated damages computed at the rate of five hundred dollars a day for each day of violation or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is greater”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Civil plaintiffs may also recover punitive damages and attorney's fees.
“punitive damages, except as may be prohibited in subsection (F)(4); and (4) a reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Five-year limitations period for the civil action.
“may not be commenced later than five years after the date upon which the claimant first has a reasonable opportunity to discover the violation”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Show 4 more facts
A plaintiff is entitled to a jury trial.
“is entitled to a jury trial.”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Caller-ID spoofing (displaying a number other than the originating device's) is a prohibited act under the chapter.
“causes the telephone network to display a telephone number on a ... caller identification display that is not the number of the originating device”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Exception: an authorized call placed on behalf of another that inserts that party's number.
“a person or entity that places an authorized call on behalf of another person or entity and inserts a telephone number identified with the person”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Exception: a communications service provider delivering a call originated by someone else.
“a communications service provider that delivers a call originated by another person or entity.”
Source: scstatehouse.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
South Carolina call recording questions
Is South Carolina a one-party consent state?
Yes. South Carolina is a one-party consent state. It is lawful under the state’s wiretap law for a person to record a call they are a party to, or one where a party has given prior consent (S.C. Code Ann. § 17-30-30).
What is the penalty for recording a call illegally in South Carolina?
Unlawful interception is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both (§ 17-30-50).
What does South Carolina's law say about lawsuits over recorded calls?
A person whose communication was unlawfully intercepted may recover actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages of $500 per day of violation or $25,000 (whichever is greater), plus punitive damages, a reasonable attorney's fee and costs, with a jury trial; suit must be filed within five years of a reasonable opportunity to discover the violation.
What do South Carolina's sources say about businesses that record calls?
The same chapter prohibits causing a caller ID display to show a number that is not the number of the originating device, with exceptions for a person placing an authorized call on behalf of another who inserts a number identified with that other person, and for a communications service provider that delivers a call someone else originated (§ 17-30-20).