Complaints or orders issued by the Housing Enforcement Officer pursuant to this subchapter shall be served upon persons either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the whereabouts of the persons are unknown and cannot be ascertained by the Enforcement Officer in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and he shall make an affidavit to that effect, the serving of the complaint or order upon the persons may be made by publishing it once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper printed and published in the city. A copy of the complaint or order also shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the complaint or order. A copy of the complaint or order also shall be filed with the County Court Clerk as a lis pendens.
(S.C. Code § 31-15-60) (‘88 Code, § 5.207)