Mount Pleasant Property Records
Mount Pleasant property records are maintained by the Charleston County Register of Deeds. Mount Pleasant is one of the fastest growing towns in South Carolina, with about 95,000 residents in Charleston County. The Register of Deeds holds all deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and easements for Mount Pleasant properties. The town has grown rapidly over the past three decades, and the recording office has a large collection of subdivision plats and development documents from that period. Whether you are looking up ownership, reviewing a title, or tracing a property's history, the county recording office and its online system provide free public access to Mount Pleasant property records.
Mount Pleasant Quick Facts
Where to Find Mount Pleasant Property Records
All deed recording for Mount Pleasant takes place at the Charleston County Register of Deeds in downtown Charleston. This is the same office that serves the City of Charleston and North Charleston. Staff can look up records by owner name, parcel identification number, or address. The office has records for Mount Pleasant properties dating back to when the town was first platted and developed.
| Office | Charleston County Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 Meeting Street, Suite 150 Charleston, SC 29401 |
| Phone | (843) 958-4800 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | charlestoncounty.org/departments/register-of-deeds |
The Town of Mount Pleasant maintains its own planning and development records at tompsc.com. The town's Planning Department holds building permits, zoning records, subdivision plats, and development plans for properties within the town limits. These records are separate from the deed records at the county Register of Deeds but are often needed together when researching a Mount Pleasant property.
The Town of Mount Pleasant site at tompsc.com links to permit searches, zoning map tools, and development applications. This is the right starting point for questions about what is allowed on a specific parcel or for finding permit history for a Mount Pleasant home or building.
Searching Mount Pleasant Property Records Online
The Charleston County online property search system at sc-charleston.publicaccessnow.com provides free public access to property records for Mount Pleasant. You can search by owner name, PIN, street address, or mailing address. Results show owner name, property address, parcel number, legal description, assessed value, and links to recorded documents. The system covers all of Charleston County, including Mount Pleasant.
When entering a PIN in the search system, type the number without dashes or spaces. A broader search with partial names or addresses returns more results if you are not sure of the exact spelling or parcel number. The system supports wildcard searches using an asterisk in advanced search fields, which is useful when searching for Mount Pleasant properties with similar names.
The statewide portal at sclandrecords.com also covers Charleston County. You can search Mount Pleasant property records from this portal using party names or legal descriptions. No account is required and no fee is charged for basic searches on either system.
Note: Mount Pleasant properties can also appear in the Charleston County assessor's database with current valuation data. The assessor's data and the Register of Deeds data are separate systems, but both are publicly available online.
Types of Property Records in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant has seen significant residential and commercial development since the 1980s. The Register of Deeds holds a large volume of subdivision plats, homeowner association documents, and development agreements recorded during that growth period. These records are part of the permanent public record for the county.
Core property records for Mount Pleasant include warranty deeds conveying ownership, quitclaim deeds for family transfers or title corrections, mortgage and deed of trust instruments securing purchase or refinance loans, subdivision plats recorded when neighborhoods were developed, mechanic's liens filed by contractors when payment disputes arise, tax liens from federal or state taxing authorities, and easements for utilities, drainage, or access. Homeowner association covenants and declarations of restrictions are also recorded for many Mount Pleasant neighborhoods and run with the land for future owners. Releases and satisfactions are recorded when mortgages are paid off or liens are removed.
Property Assessment in Mount Pleasant
Property assessments for Mount Pleasant are handled by the Charleston County Assessor's Office. The assessor determines the fair market value of each parcel, which is then used to calculate property taxes. South Carolina law under Title 12, Chapter 37 sets the assessment ratios that apply statewide.
Owner-occupied residences in Mount Pleasant qualify for the 4% assessment ratio under South Carolina law. This ratio applies to the primary residence of a property owner who lives in the home. Non-owner-occupied residential properties, vacation homes, and commercial properties are assessed at 6%. The lower 4% ratio results in a substantially lower tax bill for Mount Pleasant homeowners who use the property as their primary residence. To claim the 4% rate, the owner must apply with the Charleston County Assessor and provide proof of primary residency.
Charleston County reassesses all property every five years as required by state law. Between reassessment cycles, Act 388 caps taxable value increases at 15% for properties that have not been sold or transferred. When a Mount Pleasant property changes hands, the Assessable Transfer of Interest (ATI) rule applies. The property is reassessed at full fair market value for the tax year following the transfer. New buyers in Mount Pleasant should plan for their property tax bill to reflect the purchase price after closing.
Recording Requirements for Mount Pleasant Properties
All instruments conveying or encumbering real property in Mount Pleasant must be recorded at the Charleston County Register of Deeds to be effective against third parties. South Carolina's recording act requires proper recording under Title 30, Chapter 5 of the state code.
Before any deed or mortgage for a Mount Pleasant property can be recorded, it must be properly acknowledged under Section 30-5-30. Acknowledgment before a notary public is standard for South Carolina real estate documents. Section 30-5-35 requires that deeds executed after July 1, 1976, include a derivation clause showing the source of the grantor's title, plus the grantee's mailing address. These are standard requirements that title attorneys and closing agents confirm before submitting documents to the Register of Deeds.
The deed recording fee follows the statewide schedule administered by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. The fee is $1.85 per $500 of value, or any fraction of $500, on amounts above $100. For a $400,000 Mount Pleasant home purchase, the recording fee would be calculated on that value. The Register of Deeds collects this fee at the time of recording. Certain family transfers and other transactions may qualify for exemptions from the fee under the state's rules.
Note: Section 30-5-90 requires the Register of Deeds to record all documents in the order received and to complete recording within thirty days. In practice, most documents submitted to the Charleston County Register of Deeds are processed quickly after submission.
Historical Property Records in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant has a long history as a settlement across the Cooper River from Charleston. Property records for the area go back through Charleston County deed books to the earliest county records from 1719. The town was officially incorporated in 1837, but land records for the area predate incorporation by more than a century. Historical deed research for Mount Pleasant follows the same process as for older Charleston County properties.
The Charleston County Public Library's South Carolina Room holds historical maps, city directories, and tax records that cover Mount Pleasant and the surrounding area. Sanborn fire insurance maps from the early twentieth century show building locations and materials for the older portions of Mount Pleasant. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds Colonial Plat Books and State Plat Books documenting original land grants in what is now Mount Pleasant.
South Carolina Title 30 at scstatehouse.gov/code/t30c005.php governs all property recording in Mount Pleasant and across the state. Understanding the recording statutes helps when tracing a title or verifying that documents in a chain of title were properly recorded under the law in effect at the time.
South Carolina Land Records Portal
The SC Land Records portal at sclandrecords.com is a free public tool for searching property records across South Carolina. Charleston County is included in the portal, so you can find Mount Pleasant property records directly from the statewide search interface. The portal lets you search by party name or legal description. Results include party names, a brief legal description, and a link to the document image in the county system.
The portal covers all 46 South Carolina counties and is useful when researching properties near county lines or working on multi-county title searches. No fee or registration is required to use the statewide portal. It is maintained in cooperation with county recording offices across the state.
Note: For certified copies of recorded documents for Mount Pleasant properties, contact the Charleston County Register of Deeds directly at (843) 958-4800 or visit the office at 101 Meeting Street, Suite 150, Charleston, SC 29401.
Charleston County Property Records
Mount Pleasant is entirely within Charleston County. All deed recording, plat filing, and mortgage recording for Mount Pleasant runs through the Charleston County Register of Deeds. For the full county-level guide including recording fees, document standards, assessment information, and all county resources, visit the Charleston County property records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Residents in nearby cities record property documents at their own county offices. Select a city below to find property record resources for that area.