Aiken County Property Records
Aiken County property records are maintained by the Register of Deeds office at 1930 University Parkway in Aiken. The Register of Deeds records, indexes, and preserves all real estate documents for the county, including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens. The office provides both in-person access and online property search capabilities, making it easier to look up recorded documents without visiting the courthouse. Aiken County is one of the larger counties in the state, covering much of the Central Savannah River Area.
Aiken County Quick Facts
Aiken County Register of Deeds
The Aiken County Register of Deeds is responsible for recording and preserving all documents that affect real property in the county. Under Section 30-5-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, Aiken County is among the counties that maintain a separate Register of Deeds office, distinct from the Clerk of Court. This dedicated office focuses on real property records and provides specialized staff to assist with recording and retrieval.
The screenshot below is from the official Aiken County government website, which includes information about the Register of Deeds office and online property search options.
The county website at aikencountysc.gov is the starting point for online access to Aiken County property records and recording services.
| Office |
Aiken County Register of Deeds 1930 University Parkway Aiken, SC 29801 Phone: (803) 642-2015 |
|---|---|
| Website | aikencountysc.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
Searching Aiken County Property Records Online
Aiken County offers an online property records search through its county website. You can search by owner name, property address, or document type. The online system gives you access to indexed document information and, in many cases, scanned images of the actual recorded instruments. This makes it possible to review deeds and mortgages without visiting the Register of Deeds in person.
To search online, visit aikencountysc.gov and navigate to the Register of Deeds section. The system allows you to search by grantor name, grantee name, or document reference number. Results include the recording date, book and page number, and a link to the scanned document image when available.
The statewide SC Land Records portal also covers Aiken County. This portal provides a searchable index with party names and short legal descriptions for documents recorded in the county. If you are searching for older records or want a second search option, the SC Land Records portal is a useful resource.
For in-person searches, visit the Register of Deeds at 1930 University Parkway. Staff can assist with locating documents and making copies. Bring identifying information for the property, such as a parcel number or prior deed reference, to speed the search process.
Documents Recorded in Aiken County
The Aiken County Register of Deeds records a wide range of real property documents. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds transfer ownership between parties. Mortgages and deeds of trust secure lender interests in real property. Plats show the survey boundaries of parcels and subdivisions. Assignment and release documents track changes to existing mortgages. Easements, right-of-way grants, and restrictive covenants affect how land can be used.
Other documents in the Aiken County property records system include mechanic's liens, lis pendens notices, powers of attorney related to real estate, and UCC filings secured by real property. Each document is assigned a book and page number upon recording and is scanned into the county's electronic system.
Note: UCC filings secured by personal property must be filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State's office rather than the Register of Deeds.
Aiken County Recording Requirements and Fees
Documents submitted for recording in Aiken County must meet the requirements of South Carolina law. Under Section 30-5-30, each deed or written instrument must be acknowledged or proved before it can be recorded. Acknowledgment before a notary public is the most common method. The document must also have the original signatures and the required number of witnesses as set by state law.
Section 30-5-35 requires that all deeds and mortgages include a derivation clause explaining how the grantor acquired title. The mailing address of the grantee or mortgagee must also appear on the document. Documents must have at least a three-inch top margin on the first page so the Register of Deeds can place the official recording stamp without obscuring document content.
Recording fees in Aiken County are $15.00 for the first page of a document and $5.00 for each additional page. The state deed recording fee imposed by the South Carolina Department of Revenue is $1.85 per $500 of property value and applies to deeds that convey real property. This fee is split between the state ($1.30) and the county ($0.55). The Register of Deeds collects and remits the state portion monthly through the MyDORWAY system. Under Section 30-5-90, recorded documents must be entered in the official records within 30 days of submission.
Aiken County Property Assessment
The Aiken County Assessor's Office classifies, maps, and appraises all real property in the county for taxation. South Carolina law, found at Title 12, Chapter 37, sets the assessment ratios that apply to different property types. Owner-occupied residential property is assessed at 4% of fair market value. Agricultural land also carries a 4% assessment ratio. Commercial and investment properties are assessed at 6%.
Act 388 of 2006 introduced the Assessable Transfer of Interest (ATI) rule and the 15% cap on reassessment increases. When property does not transfer, its taxable value cannot increase by more than 15% between five-year reassessment cycles. When an ATI occurs, the property is reassessed at full fair market value in the year following the transfer. This applies to most purchases and non-exempt transfers of ownership.
Aiken County also maintains GIS mapping services that integrate property boundaries, ownership data, and assessment information. The GIS tools are accessible through the county website and allow you to view parcel maps alongside property records.
Historical Aiken County Property Records
Aiken County was formed in 1871 from parts of Barnwell, Edgefield, Lexington, and Orangeburg Districts. Property records from before 1871 for land now in Aiken County may be found in the archives for those predecessor districts. The Register of Deeds office maintains records dating back to the county's formation.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia holds historical deed books, plat records, and land grant documents for Aiken County and its predecessor districts. The archives maintain the Surveyor General's colonial and state plat books, which document the original land grants in this part of South Carolina. These records are essential for anyone researching long-standing property chains or early land ownership history.
Aiken County and the SC Land Records Portal
The statewide SC Land Records portal serves as a central gateway for property records across South Carolina's 46 counties. The portal provides a searchable index with the names of all parties to a document and a short legal description of the property. For Aiken County, this portal supplements the county's own online search system and can be useful when cross-referencing records or searching under alternate name spellings.
The image below shows the South Carolina Department of Archives and History website, which holds historical property records from across the state including early Aiken County land documents.
The SC Archives are accessible in person in Columbia and through online finding aids that help researchers identify which record groups contain relevant Aiken County property documents.
Note: When researching Aiken County property records, always check both the county's own online system and the statewide SC Land Records portal to ensure complete coverage of recorded documents.
Cities in Aiken County
Aiken County includes several cities and communities. Property records for all of these areas are filed with the Aiken County Register of Deeds at 1930 University Parkway in Aiken.
All deeds and property documents recorded for land within Aiken County, including the cities of Aiken and North Augusta, are maintained at the Register of Deeds office.
Nearby Counties
Aiken County borders several other South Carolina counties. Property near a county boundary may have records filed in a neighboring county's recording office, depending on which side of the line it falls.