30%
Will South Carolina enact a law limiting physician non-competes by July 31, 2027?
Forecast 2026-10-21 · resolves by 2027-07-31
Non-compete laws · SC
South Carolina physician non-compete law
As of October 21, 2026, South Carolina has no statute specific to physician non-competes; general non-compete law and court decisions apply.
No physician-specific statuteChecked 2026-10-21 · medium confidence
No statute governs physician non-competes. Courts generally enforce reasonable covenants, including physician covenants, but will not rewrite or narrow overbroad restrictions. (S.C. General Assembly: H.4767 (126th Sess.), Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition - residing in Senate)
Who it covers
All employees under common law; no physician- or clinician-specific statute in force.
Notes
Poynter Investments v. Century Builders (2010) bars courts from rewriting overbroad covenants; Baugh v. Columbia Heart Clinic (2013) upheld a cardiology covenant (both per secondary sources). H.4767, which would void physician noncompetes, passed the House in March 2026 but has not passed the Senate.
Bills that have not become law
Non-compete bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions that had not become law as of 2026-10-21, furthest along first. A bill that died has to be filed again to move in 2027. The 2027 session starts 2027-01-12 and ends 2027-05-13.
- H.4767 (2025–2026) · Physicians
Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition: voids physician noncompetes; employers may recover documented relocation/training/bonus costs.
Passed one chamber · Stalled. Passed House: 2nd reading 2026-03-25 (65-50), 3rd reading 2026-03-26 (58-53); Senate referred to Labor, Commerce and Industry 2026-03-26; LCI reported favorable 2026-05-05; no Senate floor vote before the 2026-05-14 sine die deadline
- H.3273 (2025–2026) · All workers, some physicians
Voids noncompetes used by SC nonprofit corporations with >$1 billion annual revenue (in practice large nonprofit health systems); no occupation limit.
Introduced · Stalled. Prefiled 2024-12-05; introduced and referred to House Labor, Commerce and Industry 2025-01-14; no further action
- S.46 (2025–2026) · Physicians
Healthcare contracts: voids physician noncompetes and terms interfering with physician-patient relationship; practice-sale exception up to 5 years.
Introduced · Stalled. Prefiled 2024-12-11; introduced and referred to Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry 2025-01-14; no further action (stage reached: introduced)
Sources
- S.C. General Assembly: H.4767 (126th Sess.), Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition - residing in Senate (bill)
- Parker Poe, South Carolina Supreme Court holds that courts may not blue-pencil non-competes (Poynter Investments v. Century Builders, 2010) (secondary)
- Parker Poe, South Carolina Court of Appeals upholds physician non-compete (Baugh v. Columbia Heart Clinic, 2013) (secondary)
Questions to ask about your contract
- Is the radius measured from your practice site or from every location the employer owns?
- Does the restriction apply if the employer terminates you without cause?
- Is there a buyout, and how is the amount calculated?
- What does your state's law say about physician non-competes?
Outlook for South Carolina
Dated forecasts, scored when they resolve. All forecasts and the track record →
Not legal advice. This page summarizes the law as written. Whether a particular agreement is enforceable depends on its wording, when it was signed and court decisions. Ask an attorney licensed in South Carolina.