In any case other than that of a charter or incorporation, the petition shall set forth fully and distinctly the merits and particulars of the case and, if the proposed legislation shall in any wise directly affect the rights of others who reside in this State, the petition shall be accompanied with proof that the parties, so far as known, who may be affected merely, have had sixty days' notice of the presentation of such petition before such petition is presented and also that notice of the intention of the petitioner or petitioners to make such application has been published in the newspaper having the largest circulation published in the county in which the privilege or immunity is to be enjoyed, once a week for at least three weeks, the first of which publications shall be at least sixty days before such petition is presented.
S.C. Code § 2-7-440