(A) The department may refer any reports of violations of this chapter and Article 1, Chapter 1 of this title or any reports of violations of regulations promulgated under this chapter directly to the board or may issue administrative citations and cease and desist orders in person or by certified mail and may assess administrative penalties against any entity or individual, including unlicensed contractors, for violations of this chapter as specified by the board.

(B) Separate citations may be issued and separate administrative penalties may be assessed for each violation; however, no more than two thousand five hundred dollars in administrative penalties may be assessed against an entity or an individual per day.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-79-100

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Board: means the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board. See South Carolina Code 40-79-20
  • Department: means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. See South Carolina Code 40-79-20
  • Entity: means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, cooperative, corporation, or other legal entity authorized by law and approved by the board. See South Carolina Code 40-79-20
  • Individual: means a natural person. See South Carolina Code 40-79-20

(C) Administrative penalties authorized under this section are separate from and in addition to all other civil or criminal remedies.

(D) Administrative penalties assessed pursuant to this section may not exceed these limits:

(1) for a first offense, not more than five hundred dollars;

(2) for a second offense in a five-year period, the citation must be referred to the board for action in accordance with § 40-79-120.

(E) An entity or individual assessed administrative penalties may appeal those penalties to the board within fifteen days of receipt of the citation. If an appeal is filed, the department shall schedule a hearing before the board, which shall make a determination in the matter. If no appeal is filed, the citation is deemed a final order and the administrative penalties must be paid within thirty days of receipt of the citation.