S.C. Code Ann. § 31-1-410

No housing project proposed by a limited dividend housing company incorporated under this chapter shall be undertaken and no building or other construction shall be placed under contract or started without the approval of the director. No housing project shall be approved by the director unless: (1) it shall appear practicable to rent the housing accommodations to be created at rentals not exceeding those prescribed by the director; (2) the project will not be in contravention of any zoning or building ordinance in effect in the locality in which the housing accommodations are to be located; (3) there shall be submitted to the director a financial plan in such form and with such assurance as the director may prescribe to raise the actual cost of the lands and projected improvements by subscriptions to or the sale of the stock, income debentures and mortgage bonds of such corporation, which plan may provide for the raising of working capital in an amount to be approved by the director not to exceed three percent of the actual cost through the investment in stock and income debentures of the corporation; (4) there shall be such plans of site development and buildings as show conformity to reasonable standards of health, sanitation, safety and provision for light and air, accompanied by proper specifications and estimates of cost, such plans and specifications in any case not falling below the requirements of the health, sanitation, safety and housing laws of the State and meeting superior requirements if prescribed by local laws and ordinances; (5) the plans and specifications mentioned in item (4) shall have been submitted to the city council or other governing body of the city in which the housing project is located; (6) if required by the director, the corporation shall deposit all moneys received by it as proceeds of its mortgage bonds, notes, income debentures or stock with a trustee which shall be a banking corporation authorized to do business in this State and to perform trust functions; and (7) the acceptance of a designee of the director as a member of the board of directors of such corporation.