Article XIV Eminent Domain

SECTION 1. Boundary rivers.

The State shall have concurrent jurisdiction on all rivers bordering on this State, so far as such rivers shall form a common boundary to this and any other State bounded by the same; and they, together with all navigable waters within the limits of the State, shall be common highways and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of this State as to the citizens of the United States, without any tax or impost therefor, unless the same be expressly provided for by the General Assembly.

SECTION 2. Title to certain lands.

The title to all lands and other property which have heretofore accrued to this State by grant, gift, purchase, forfeiture, escheats or otherwise shall vest in the State of South Carolina, the same as though no change had taken place.

SECTION 3. Ultimate property in lands.

The people of the State are declared to possess the ultimate property in and to all lands within the jurisdiction of the State; and all lands the title to which shall fail from defect of heirs shall revert or escheat to the people.

SECTION 4. Navigable waters free; tax for use of wharf.

All navigable waters shall forever remain public highways free to the citizens of the State and the United States without tax, impost or toll imposed; and no tax, toll, impost or wharfage shall be imposed, demanded or received from the owners of any merchandise or commodity for the use of the shores or any wharf erected on the shores or in or over the waters of any navigable stream unless the same be authorized by the General Assembly.

SECTION 5. Slum clearance and redevelopment; acquisition of air rights and subsurface rights.

Provided, the General Assembly may provide by law that any incorporated municipality in Spartanburg County, or any housing or redevelopment authority now existing or hereafter established to function in Spartanburg County, may undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas which are predominantly slum or blighted, the preparation of such areas for reuse, and the sale or other disposition of such areas to private enterprise for private uses or to public bodies for public uses and to that end the General Assembly may delegate to such incorporated municipalities in Spartanburg County or to such authorities, the right to exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property essential to the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment.

Provided, that the municipalities of York County may, pursuant to statutory law, now existing or hereafter enacted, and acting through their municipal councils or through any housing or redevelopment authority, now or hereafter established, undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas which are predominantly slum or blighted, the preparation of such areas for reuse, and the sale or other disposition of such areas to private enterprise for private uses or to public bodies for public uses, and to that end may exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property essential to the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment. Provided, further, that just compensation be paid for all property and property rights so taken. In cases of condemnation of land, where reuse is for private purposes, on which is located main underground subway systems, interstate toll lines, transmission lines, transformer vaults, or railroad main line trackage, the total compensation to the public utility or railroad shall be the reasonable expense incurred in relocation of the systems, lines, vaults or trackage. Provided, further, that in cases of condemnation of land, where reuse is for private purposes, the condemnee shall be given the first opportunity to purchase the land when it is sold by the condemnor for such reuse.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article I, Section 17, restricting the exercise of the power of eminent domain to the acquisition of property for public use, Spartanburg County, any incorporated municipality, political subdivision or authority in Spartanburg County may acquire air rights or subsurface rights, both as hereinafter defined, by any means permitted by law for acquisition of real estate, including eminent domain, and may dispose of air rights and subsurface rights regardless of how or for what purpose acquired, for private or public use by lease, mortgage, sale or otherwise. Air rights shall mean estates, rights and interests in the space above the surface of the ground or the surface of streets, roads or rights-of-way including access, support and other appurtenant rights required for the utilization thereof. Subsurface rights shall mean estates, rights and interests in the space below the surface of the ground or the surface of streets, roads or rights-of-way including access, support and other appurtenant rights required for the utilization thereof.

Provided, that the municipalities of Florance County may, pursuant to statutory law, now existing or hereafter enacted, and acting through their municipal councils or through any housing or redevelopment authority, now or hereafter established, undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas which are predominantly slum or blighted, the preparation of such areas for reuse, and the sale or other disposition of such areas to private enterprise for private uses or to public bodies for public uses, and to that end may exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property essential to the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment. Provided, further, that just compensation be paid for all property and property rights so taken. In cases of condemnation of land, where reuse is for private purposes, on which is located main underground subway systems, interstate toll lines, transmission lines, transformer vaults, or railroad main line trackage, the total compensation to the public utility or railroad shall be the reasonable expense incurred in relocation of the systems, lines, vaults or trackage. Provided, further, that in cases of condemnation of land, where reuse is for private purposes, the condemnee shall be given the first opportunity to purchase the land when it is sold by the condemnor for such reuse.

Provided, that the General Assembly may provide by law that any incorporated municipality in Greenville County, or any housing or redevelopment authority now existing or hereafter established to function in Greenville County, may undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas public or private (including streets and rights-of-way) designated by such municipality or authority and may prepare such areas for reuse, and may sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of such areas (including air rights over or subsurface rights under such areas, streets, roads or rights-of-way) to private enterprise for private use or to public bodies for public use and to that end the General Assembly may delegate to such incorporated municipalities in Greenville County or to such authority the right to exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property to effectuate the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment. Provided, however, that before any such acquisition occurs under the power of eminent domain, a plan of redevelopment including such property shall be approved, after public hearing thereon, by the governing body of the municipality, as to property within the corporate limits of such municipality, or by the Greenville County Council, as to property not within the corporate limits of any municipality, or by such other body as the General Assembly may designate.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article I, Section 17, restricting the exercise of the power of eminent domain to the acquisition of property for public use, Greenville County, any incorporated municipality, political subdivision or authority in Greenville County may acquire air rights or subsurface rights, both as hereinafter defined, by any means permitted by law for acquisition of real estate, including eminent domain, and may dispose of air rights and subsurface rights regardless of how or for what purpose acquired, for private or public use by lease, mortgage, sale or otherwise.

Air rights shall mean estates, rights and interests in the space above the surface of the ground or the surface of streets, roads or rights-of-way including access, support and other appurtenant rights required for the utilization thereof. Subsurface rights shall mean estates, rights and interests in the space below the surface of the ground or the surface of streets, roads or rights-of-way including access, support and other appurtenant rights required for the utilization thereof.

Provided, that the General Assembly may provide by law that any incorporated municipality in Charleston County, or any housing or redevelopment authority now existing or hereafter established to function in Charleston County, may undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas public or private (including streets and rights-of-way) designated by such municipality or authority and may prepare such areas for reuse, and may sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of such areas (including air rights over or subsurface rights under such areas, streets, roads or rights-of-way) to private enterprise for private use or to public bodies for public use and to that end the General Assembly may delegate to such incorporated municipalities in Charleston County or to such authority the right to exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property to effectuate the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment. Provided, however, that before any such acquisition occurs under the power of eminent domain, a plan of redevelopment including such property shall be approved, after public hearing thereon, by the governing body of the municipality, as to property within the corporate limits of such municipality, or by the Charleston County Council, as to property not within the corporate limits of any municipality, or by such other body as the General Assembly may designate.

Provided, that the General Assembly may provide by law that any incorporated municipality in Richland County, or any housing or redevelopment authority now existing or hereafter established to function in Richland County, may undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas public or private (including streets and rights-of-way) designated by such municipality or authority and may prepare such areas for reuse, and may sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of such areas (including air rights over or subsurface rights under such areas, streets, roads or rights-of-way) to private enterprise for private use or to public bodies for public use and to that end the General Assembly may delegate to such incorporated municipalities in Richland County or to such authority the right to exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property to effectuate the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment. Provided, however, that before any such acquisition occurs under the power of eminent domain, a plan of redevelopment including such property shall be approved, after public hearing thereon, by the governing body of the municipality, as to property within the corporate limits of such municipality, or by the County Council for Richland County, as to the property not within the corporate limits of any municipality, or by such other body as the General Assembly may designate.

Provided, the General Assembly may provide by law that any incorporated municipality in Laurens County, or any housing or redevelopment authority now existing or hereafter established to function in the county, may undertake and carry out slum clearance and redevelopment work in areas which are predominantly slum or blighted, the preparation of such areas for reuse, and the sale or other disposition of such areas to private enterprise for private uses or to public bodies for public uses and to that end the General Assembly may delegate to such incorporated municipalities in Laurens County or to such authorities the right to exercise the power of eminent domain as to any property essential to the plan of slum clearance and redevelopment, including the acquisition of air rights or subsurface rights, both as hereinafter defined, by any means permitted by law for acquisition of real estate and may dispose of air rights and subsurface rights regardless of how or for what purpose acquired, for private or public use by lease, mortgage, sale or otherwise. Air rights shall mean estates, rights and interests in the space above the surface of the ground or the surface of streets, roads or rights-of-way, including access, support and other appurtenant rights required for the utilization thereof. Subsurface rights shall mean estates, rights and interest in the space below the surface of the ground or the surface of streets, roads or rights-of-way, including access, support and other appurtenant rights required for the utilization thereof.

In cases of condemnation of land on which are located underground subway systems, interstate toll lines, transmission lines, transformer vaults or railroad line trackage, the total compensation to the public utility or railroad shall be the reasonable expense incurred in relocation of the systems, lines, vaults or trackage.