South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 15 - Nongame And Endangered Species
Section 50-15-70. Native turtles; unlawful acts; possession limits.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this article, it is unlawful for a person to possess, sell, barter, trade, ship, or remove from this State, or attempt to possess, sell, barter, trade, ship, or remove from this State the following native species of turtles, including parts, products, eggs, offspring, and derivatives thereof:
(1) Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana);
(2) river cooter (Pseudemys concinna);
(3) chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia);
(4) eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta);
(5) spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera);
(6) Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox);
(7) eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum);
(8) striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii);
(9) common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus);
(10) yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta);
(11) common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina);
(12) eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina); and
(13) diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).
(B) The following personal possession limits, subject to an aggregate limit of ten, are established:
(1) Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana): 5;
(2) river cooter (Pseudemys concinna): 5;
(3) chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia): 5;
(4) eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta): 5;
(5) spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera): 5;
(6) Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox): 5;
(7) eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum): 5;
(8) striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii): 5;
(9) common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus): 5;
(10) yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta): 5;
(11) common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina): 5;
(12) eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina): 2; and
(13) diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin): 2.
(C) The department may permit the possession of native species of turtles in excess of the limits established in subsection (B) for scientific, zoological, conservation, or other special purposes.
HISTORY: 2009 Act No. 6, Section 1, eff May 6, 2009; former 1976 Code Section 50-15-75; 2014 Act No. 159 (S.714), Section 1, eff April 14, 2014; 2020 Act No. 177 (H.4831), Section 3.A, eff September 28, 2020.

Editor's Note
2020 Act No. 177, Section 3.B., provides as follows:
"[SECTION 3.]B. A person who exceeds a personal possession limit under Section 50-15-70(B), as amended by this act, on the effective date of this act must register the number and species of turtles in the person's possession with the Department of Natural Resources within ninety days of the effective date of this act in order to receive a temporary exemption to the personal possession limits. The person is prohibited from acquiring another turtle listed in Section 50-15-70, as amended by this act, until such time as the number of turtles in the person's possession is below the established limits. A person who registers with the Department of Natural Resources pursuant to SECTION 3.B. and subsequently acquires a turtle in excess of the established limits is subject to the same penalties provided for violations of Section 50-15-70."
Effect of Amendment
2014 Act No. 159, Section 1, reenacted the section with no apparent change.
2020 Act No. 177, Section 3.A., rewrote the section.