Charleston County Property Search
Charleston County property records refer to documents that bear essential details about a land or building situated locally.
People search property records to determine the identity of a property's legal owner. The investigation is a necessary part of individuals' due diligence before finalizing a property transaction. Property lookups are also useful for tracing a property's title chain (history of ownership), settling boundary disputes, determining the value of a piece of real estate, and verifying property tax obligations.
In Charleston County, the Register of Deeds is the primary custodian of property records and related Charleston County Public Records. Title 30, Chapter 5 of the South Carolina Code of Laws highlights the duties of the Register of Deeds. It stipulates that recordation at a Register of Deeds office is a prerequisite for the validity of instruments conveying an interest in real property in that county. The Register must also release recorded documents to the public upon request.
Are Charleston County Property Records Public?
Yes. Property records are public information in Charleston County under S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-4-10 et seq., also called the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Under South Carolina's FOIA, individuals can inspect or receive property records through an official custodian. (Anyone refused access to a public property record may file a lawsuit against the public office.)
However, the FOIA also highlights several records restricted from public disclosure or considered confidential. For example, sensitive private information like a Social Security or bank account number is not available in a property record.
Where to Perform a Charleston County Property Lookup
Anyone can perform a property search in Charleston County by visiting the following places:
- The Charleston County Register of Deeds Office.
- The Document Search Page on the Register of Deeds website.
- The Public Access Search Page on the county government's official website.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Charleston County
Individuals can obtain property ownership information or conduct a title search in Charleston County at the Charleston County's Register of Deeds Office during business hours. Below is the office's physical location:
O.T. Wallace County Office Building
Room 200
101 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-4800
Fax: (843) 958-4803
At the Register of Deeds Office, members of the public will be granted physical access to all recorded documents from 1719 to 1960 and recorded documents on film or microfiche from 1960 to 2005. They will also be allowed to copy and obtain certified copies of available property documents for a fee.
The Charleston Register of Deeds also maintains an online database where individuals can search images of deeds and mortgages recorded from 1997. To access the database, individuals should navigate to the Register of Deeds' Document Search page. Searches can be performed with a name and recording date.
Another alternative for conducting a property owner lookup is to visit Charleston County's Real Property Record Search portal to perform a real property search with criteria such as a name or PIN (Parcel Identification Number).
How to Find Charleston County Property Records Online
Individuals can find county property records online by leveraging official online search platforms. They may also find property information for Charleston County via a third-party aggregate website of their choice. Note that a fee may be required to obtain information from a third-party website.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
Requesters can find property owners by address by accessing the Real Property Record Search portal maintained on the Charleston County official website.
Upon accessing the portal (by selecting "Real Property Record Search" from the top menu), the user should input a street or mailing address into the relevant box and click the search button. A property owner's full name and mailing address are retrievable upon this search.
Charleston County Property Tax Lookup
Individuals can obtain tax information on properties in Charleston County via the Real Property Bill Search portal available on the county's website. The portal can be searched with a name, address, street address, or PIN to find local property tax information.
Property tax lookups are necessary to determine one's tax obligations or assessment values. Searching tax information may also be helpful for estate planning and analyzing property investments.
How to Find Charleston County Property Appraiser
Individuals can find property appraisers in Charleston County using the Licensee Lookup tool on the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board's website. The website can be accessed as follows:
- Go to https://llr.sc.gov/appr/.
- Select "Licensing + Services" from the top menu and "License Lookup" from the drop-down menu.
- Select the applicable profession (i.e., Real Estate Appraisers) on the next page, then click "Select".
- Fill out the "City" column and click "Find" to generate a list of appraisers matching the search criteria.
Property appraisers' primary responsibility is to assess real estate's value. Individuals and firms typically hire appraisal services during property transactions to ensure that prices or considerations are based on accurate property values.
Charleston County Property Assessor
Charleston County's Property Assessor is responsible for locating, listing, and appraising all the real property parcels and titled mobile homes for taxation purposes. The Assessor also undertakes the following tasks:
- Handles property valuation appeals
- Maintains property records necessary for reassessment purposes, including sales transaction records, tax maps, and building permits
- Reviews and approves or disapproves real property for agricultural use
Individuals can find the Charleston County Property Assessor's Office at the following location:
3875 Faber Place Drive
Suite 100
North Charleston, SC 29405-8547
Phone: (843) 958-4100
