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State guides / South Carolina

South Carolina property data

South Carolina keeps its land records county by county, all 46 of them, each with its own systems. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 46Counties
  • PublicSale prices
Pick a county

What you can get in South Carolina

South Carolina makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the county Assessor in each county
  • Sale pricesThe state deed recording fee is based on the price paid, so the sale price is reported when the deed is recorded and shows up in county records.
  • Deeds and mortgagesRegister of Deeds in each county (in a few counties the Clerk of Court handles it)
  • Assessed valuesEach county must reappraise all property once every five years, and a sale can trigger a new value in between.
  • Tax salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesFiled in court, so they're public early
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities and towns keep their own code enforcement cases, building permits and business licenses, and those records are covered by the Freedom of Information Act.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Redeemable deeds

Each county's delinquent tax collector auctions property with unpaid taxes, usually once a year in the fall. The owner has 12 months to redeem, and if they do the bidder gets the bid back plus interest that rises by quarter from 3% to 12%, capped at the opening bid amount. If no one redeems, the bidder gets a tax title deed, which comes with no warranty.

Foreclosure goes through the courts

Mortgage foreclosure goes through the courts, and the property is sold at public auction, usually by the county Master-in-Equity. When the lender asks for a deficiency judgment, bidding stays open for 30 days after the sale before it closes.

Land banks

South Carolina has no statewide land bank law; a 2013 community land bank bill did not pass.

Transfer tax

The deed recording fee is $1.85 per $500 of value ($1.30 state and $0.55 county), or $3.70 per $1,000.

Worth knowing

Owner-occupied homes are assessed at 4% of value, while most other property, including rentals, is assessed at 6%, so the same house can carry a much higher tax bill as a rental.

Worth knowing

Value increases during the five-year reassessment are capped at 15%, but the cap goes away when the property sells, so a buyer can face a new, higher value right after closing.

Every county in South Carolina

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in South Carolina?

Yes. The deed recording fee is based on the price, so the price is reported when a deed is recorded, and county assessor records show it.

How do tax sales work in South Carolina?

Each county's delinquent tax collector holds a yearly auction. The owner has 12 months to redeem by paying the taxes plus interest of 3% to 12% depending on the quarter, capped at the opening bid. If the owner does not redeem, the winning bidder gets a tax title deed with no warranty.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in South Carolina?

With the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located. In a few counties the Clerk of Court handles recording.

How often are South Carolina properties reassessed?

Every county must reappraise once every five years. Increases are capped at 15% at reassessment, but a sale removes the cap and resets the value.

Is foreclosure judicial in South Carolina?

Yes. Lenders must go to court, and the property is sold at public auction, usually by the county Master-in-Equity. If the lender seeks a deficiency judgment, bids stay open for 30 days after the sale.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

Yes. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act lets anyone request records from state agencies, counties and cities, such as code enforcement files or permits. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

Deedplat is in beta. Pick any South Carolina county to get started.

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