Richland County Register of Deeds
Richland County property records are filed and preserved by the Register of Deeds at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia, South Carolina. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, satisfactions, tax liens, and UCC filings that affect real property in the county. Richland County is the second most populous county in South Carolina and home to the state capital. The volume of real estate activity in Columbia and the surrounding communities makes the Richland County Register of Deeds one of the busiest recording offices in the state. The office provides multiple ways to access records, including in-person visits, mail requests, email inquiries, and subscription-based online access.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County Register of Deeds Office
The Richland County Register of Deeds is located at the Judicial Center at 1701 Main Street, Room 101, in Columbia. The mailing address is P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC 29202. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The main phone number is 803-576-1910. Customer service inquiries submitted by email receive a response within one business day.
Richland County is one of the 24 South Carolina counties that maintain a separate Register of Deeds office under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-5-10. The Register records all real estate instruments in the order received, indexes them by party name and property description, and provides scanned images for viewing at public terminals in the office. Under South Carolina law, recording real estate documents protects ownership rights. Deeds and mortgages are only legally effective against subsequent purchasers and creditors once they are officially recorded in the county's land records.
The office team can help point you in the right direction. They cannot conduct searches on your behalf or advise on the execution of documents. For legal assistance, the Register of Deeds refers users to the SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 803-799-7100. The Richland County Register of Deeds website is at richlandcountysc.gov.
Visit the Richland County Register of Deeds page for full office information and online access options.
The Richland County Register of Deeds office at 1701 Main Street in Columbia is the official keeper of all property records in the county.
| Physical Address |
1701 Main Street, Room 101 Columbia, SC 29201 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address |
P.O. Box 192 Columbia, SC 29202 |
| Phone | 803-576-1910 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | richlandcountysc.gov |
How to Search Richland County Property Records
Richland County offers more options for accessing property records than most other South Carolina counties. In-person access during business hours is the most complete option. You can visit the office at 1701 Main Street, Room 101 in Columbia and use the public access terminals to search the index and view scanned documents. Staff can assist with navigation but will not conduct the search for you.
Mail requests are available for users who cannot visit in person. Send your request with proper identification and the applicable fees to the mailing address at P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC 29202. Email customer service is another option. The office responds to email inquiries within one business day and can provide guidance on how to obtain specific documents.
The most efficient option for professionals and frequent users is the subscription-based online access service. Richland County offers subscriptions by day, week, month, or year. The subscription provides online viewing of deeds and estate records, with the ability to search and view documents remotely at any hour during the subscription period. This service is designed for users who need regular access to Richland County property records.
The statewide SC Land Records portal at sclandrecords.com also provides a free name-indexed search for Richland County documents. The index is a useful starting tool. However, for complete and certified records, use the Register of Deeds directly.
Richland County Subscription Data Service
The Richland County Register of Deeds offers a fee-based subscription service for online viewing of property records. Subscriptions are available by day, week, month, or year, allowing users to select the access period that fits their project needs and budget. Subscribers can search and view recorded documents from any location during their subscription period.
The subscription service is used by a broad range of professionals who need regular access to Richland County deeds and related records:
- Attorneys and paralegals conducting title searches
- Mortgage companies processing loan applications
- Title researchers and abstractors
- Land surveyors verifying boundary descriptions
- Homeowners looking for copies of their deeds or mortgages
- Genealogists tracing family property history
For information on current subscription rates and how to sign up, contact the Richland County Register of Deeds by phone at 803-576-1910 or through the customer service email on the county website. Subscription terms and pricing may change, so confirm details directly with the office before subscribing.
Visit the Richland County website to find subscription service information and other county resources.
Richland County's subscription service provides flexible online access to deeds and other recorded property documents for professionals and researchers.
Types of Documents Recorded in Richland County
The Richland County Register of Deeds records a comprehensive range of instruments affecting real property. Deeds include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and trustee deeds. Each type conveys or relinquishes an ownership interest in real property. Mortgages recorded in Richland County include primary mortgages, second mortgages, and home equity lines of credit. All mortgages create liens on real property that must be satisfied before title can pass free and clear.
Property liens recorded in Richland County include mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and HOA liens. Plats record the surveyed dimensions and boundaries of parcels and subdivisions. Subdividing land or selling a portion of a larger tract typically requires a recorded plat in Richland County. Satisfactions release previously recorded mortgages and liens once the underlying obligations are paid. Tax liens filed by state or federal tax authorities also appear in the recording system. UCC filings, which are Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, may relate to fixtures or other property interests connected with real estate.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-5-90, the Register must record all writings concerning land titles in the order received. Every document gets a sequential reel and page number that serves as its permanent reference in the Richland County land records.
Recording Requirements and Fees
All instruments submitted to the Richland County Register of Deeds must comply with S.C. Code Ann. § 30-5-30. Every deed or other instrument must be acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized officer. The acknowledgment certificate must show the date and location and bear the officer's signature and official seal. Documents without proper acknowledgment will be returned without recording.
Section 30-5-35 requires a derivation clause in all deeds and mortgages executed after July 1, 1976. This clause states the prior instrument through which the grantor acquired title. The grantee's mailing address must also appear in the document. These requirements apply to every instrument filed in Richland County.
The base recording fee in Richland County is $15 for the first page. The Richland County Register of Deeds also charges specific fees for certain document types, including $10 for deed affidavits and $25 for mortgage documents and agreements. The deed recording fee of $1.85 per $500 of realty value is collected separately under the authority of the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Richland County retains $0.55 of each $1.85 and remits $1.30 to the state monthly through the MyDORWAY system.
Note: The Register of Deeds staff cannot provide legal advice on document preparation. For assistance with deed drafting or real estate legal questions, contact the SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 803-799-7100.
Richland County Property Assessment
The Richland County Assessor's Office values all real property within the county for tax purposes under S.C. Code Ann. § 12-37. South Carolina law requires a countywide reassessment every five years, with an optional one-year extension by county ordinance. Act 388 limits taxable value increases to 15% between reassessments for properties that have not been sold or transferred. When a qualifying Assessable Transfer of Interest (ATI) occurs after December 31, 2006, the Assessor places the property at full fair market value on the tax rolls for the following year.
In a large, active market like Richland County, the ATI rule frequently affects buyers. Properties in Columbia neighborhoods and suburban communities that have not changed hands in many years may carry capped assessments well below current market value. When those properties sell, the new owner will see a significant reassessment in the following tax year. Understanding the ATI process helps buyers accurately forecast their property tax costs after closing. Owner-occupied residences are assessed at 4% of fair market value. Commercial, investment, and non-primary-residence properties are assessed at 6%.
Historical Property Records and House History Research
Richland County was established in 1785. The Register of Deeds holds property records going back to the early years of the county. Columbia has been the state capital since 1786, and the depth of land records here reflects that long history of government, commerce, and real estate activity. Researchers tracking ownership of historic homes and commercial buildings in Columbia will find decades of deed books, plat books, and related instruments at the Register of Deeds.
Richland County and the City of Columbia provide additional resources for house history research. The Register of Deeds holds real estate information including deeds, titles, and probate records going back many years. Staff can help you get started with the index, but plan to spend several hours or days on detailed research since staff cannot conduct the search on your behalf. City of Columbia records include digitized Permit and Plumbing Books from the 1930s and 1950s that show dates of construction and building alterations. City Directories available through the South Carolina Digital Library project trace residents and businesses. For the earliest property records before South Carolina counties were formed, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds colonial land grants and state plat books dating from 1731.
Statewide Resources
Multiple statewide resources complement the Richland County Register of Deeds. The SC Land Records portal at sclandrecords.com provides free online name-indexed searching for Richland County recorded documents. The South Carolina Association of Counties at scac.org provides guidance on county records management. The SC Judicial Branch at sccourts.org maintains the public index for court cases including foreclosure proceedings and probate matters that affect Richland County property.
Review South Carolina Code Title 12 Chapter 37 for the property tax assessment rules that affect Richland County property owners.
Title 12, Chapter 37 governs property tax assessment in Richland County, including the five-year reassessment cycle and ATI provisions.
Note: Richland County's subscription service for online records access is the most efficient option for attorneys, title researchers, and mortgage professionals who search the records regularly.
Cities in Richland County
Richland County includes the City of Columbia, the state capital and the county seat. All property records for the county, including Columbia real estate transactions, are filed at the Richland County Register of Deeds at 1701 Main Street.
Columbia is the largest city in Richland County and the capital of South Carolina. All property transfers in Columbia are recorded at the Richland County Register of Deeds.
Nearby Counties
Richland County borders Kershaw, Fairfield, Newberry, Lexington, Calhoun, and Sumter counties. Each county has its own property records office. Searches for properties near county lines may require checking records in more than one county.