Richland County Property Search
Richland County property records are documents that convey an interest or pertain to real property within the county. These documents include deeds, mortgages, leases, assignments, satisfactions, releases, liens, plats, leases, easements, and tax records.
Individuals, including real estate lawyers and professionals, look up property records for different reasons. A person may need the records to identify encumbrances that affect a title, or they perform a property search for the following reasons:
- To trace a property's ownership history
- To settle land disputes
- To find information for real estate litigation
- To determine the assessed value of a property
Per S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-5-30, the Richland County Register of Deeds is the county's primary keeper of property information and these records are considered part of Richland County Public Records.
Are Richland County Property Records Public?
Yes. Richland County property records are considered public information under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Therefore, anyone can obtain these records from their official custodians, for example, the Richland County Register of Deeds.
However, some records are exempt from public viewing under the law. Bank account details and Social Security numbers, for example, are classified as sensitive records and are not among those disclosed to the public under the FOIA.
Where to Perform a Richland County Property Lookup
Individuals can look up Richland County property records by:
- Visiting the Richland County Register of Deeds Office
- Accessing the Richland County Online Data Services page
- Utilizing third-party repositories
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Richland County
Individuals can conduct a property owner lookup or title search at the Richland County Register of Deeds Office.
Richland County Judicial Center
1701 Main Street
Room 101
Columbia, SC 29201
Members of the public can visit the office during working hours to conduct a property search. Public computers are available for title and other property searches. However, while viewing or inspecting property records is free, individuals must pay a fee to make copies of documents.
The Register of Deeds does not entertain questions about property searches via telephone. Individuals may visit the customer desk at the above courthouse address to make property search inquiries. One can also call (803) 576-1917 to hear a recorded message of the office's services or mail a letter to the following address:
P.O. Box 192
Columbia, SC 29202
How to Find Richland County Property Records Online
To find Richland County property records online, individuals can navigate to the county's Online Data Services page and create an account. The county provides the portal as a means to view scanned images of documents maintained by the local Probate Court and the Register of Deeds Office. The service is fee-based, however. Details on how to use this portal can be obtained by accessing the SMS User Guide. Note that images for documents recorded before 1998 are not available on the online platform. However, a person can find data indexed pre-1998.
Alternatively, interested parties can search third-party repositories that provide Richland County property lookup services for a fee. Individuals using these services must provide specific details about the property of interest to facilitate the search.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
Interested parties can find information about a Richland County property owner via the county's Online Data Services page. Registered users can click the "Search" link next to their subscription plan to be redirected to a search page where they can search by property address.
As mentioned, the service is not free. Users are expected to have an active daily, weekly, monthly, or annual subscription to access the system.
Richland County Property Tax Lookup
Individuals who want to confirm their property tax assessments or obligations can obtain property tax information in Richland County as follows:
- Access Richland County's official website, hover the mouse pointer over "Online Services" in the top menu, and click "Online Payments".
- Next, click "Vehicle, Real Estate, Business & Personal Tax Payments" from the list, and then "Real Estate".
This action will take the researcher to a "Real Estate Tax Search" page, where they can retrieve property tax information by tax year, owner's last name, and property address, or tax year and tax map number
How to Find Richland County Property Appraiser
Individuals can find Richland County property appraisers using the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board's License Lookup portal. Search parameters include a licensee's name, license type, license number, and city. Entering information into the "City" search field generates certified appraisers within a particular city, including their full names, license numbers, and license expiration dates.
Property appraisers estimate the value of real estate for different purposes, including assessments, insurance, estate development, and mortgage applications. Such appraisals are typically sought after by individuals and firms who want to ensure that they get a fair bargain out of a property transaction.
Richland County Property Assessor
The Richland County Property Assessor ensures that all local properties are appraised at their fair market value and placed on the county's tax rolls for taxation purposes. The Assessor also accepts property tax appeals. Below is the office's address:
2020 Hampton Street
2nd Floor
P.O. Box 192
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone: (803) 576-2640
Fax: (803) 576-2681
Email: AssessorOffice@RichlandCountySC.Gov
