Spartanburg County Deeds and Property Records
Spartanburg County property records are maintained by the Register of Deeds, one of South Carolina's dedicated register offices serving one of the state's most populous Upstate counties. Located in Spartanburg, the county seat, the Register of Deeds office records deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and a full range of instruments affecting real estate in Spartanburg County. The county borders Cherokee, Union, Laurens, Greenville, and York counties, and also shares a line with North Carolina. Researchers, lenders, title companies, and the general public can access Spartanburg County property records through the register's office and through statewide online tools.
Spartanburg County Quick Facts
Spartanburg County Register of Deeds
The Spartanburg County Register of Deeds is the official recording office for all real property instruments in Spartanburg County. South Carolina law under S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-5-10 specifically names Spartanburg as one of the counties with a separate Register of Deeds, rather than recording through the Clerk of Court. This dedicated office handles the full workload of one of South Carolina's busiest recording jurisdictions. The Spartanburg County Administration Building is open from 8 AM to 5 PM on business days.
The Register records instruments in the order they are received and assigns each document a reel and page number. Documents are scanned and indexed by party name and property description. Under S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-5-90, recording must be completed within thirty days of the instrument's lodgment. The office retains microfilm of all recorded documents as permanent historical records. Original documents are returned to the submitting party after recording is complete.
| Office | Spartanburg County Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 5626, Spartanburg, SC 29304 |
| Phone | (864) 596-2545 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | spartanburgcounty.org |
The main county website at spartanburgcounty.org provides links to county departments, including the Register of Deeds and the Assessor's property search tool.
Searching Spartanburg County Property Records
Spartanburg County property records can be accessed online and in person. The county Assessor's property records search at spartanburgcounty.org lets users look up parcel data by owner name, address, or parcel identification number. The search carries a disclaimer regarding accuracy, so verify any critical information against official recorded documents.
The SC Land Records portal at sclandrecords.com offers a statewide index that includes Spartanburg County deed and mortgage records. You can search by grantor and grantee name and view a brief legal description of each parcel. The portal is a strong starting point for online research before visiting the Register of Deeds in person. For copies of full recorded documents, contact the Spartanburg County Register of Deeds directly.
In-person searches at the Register of Deeds office in Spartanburg give you access to the full document index and images. Bring the names of all parties involved and a date range if you have one. Staff can assist with locating records and providing copies. Copy fees apply.
Note: The Assessor's online search is useful for ownership and assessment data, but for title purposes, the deed index at the Register of Deeds is the authoritative source in Spartanburg County.
Types of Documents Recorded in Spartanburg County
The Spartanburg County Register of Deeds records a broad range of real property instruments. Standard conveyance documents include general warranty deeds, limited warranty deeds, and quitclaim deeds. The office also records deeds of trust, mortgages, mortgage satisfaction certificates, and subordination agreements.
Beyond standard transfers, the Register records plats showing subdivision layouts and boundary surveys, easements and right-of-way grants, mechanic's and materialman's liens, homeowner association documents, condominium declarations, and lis pendens notices filed in connection with pending litigation. UCC fixture filings, which pertain to personal property attached to real estate, are also accepted. Each of these document types serves a distinct legal purpose in establishing and protecting interests in Spartanburg County real estate.
Under S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-5-35, every deed and mortgage executed in South Carolina after July 1, 1976, must contain a derivation clause describing how the grantor acquired title. The mailing address of the grantee or mortgagee must also appear on the face of the document. Documents that do not meet these standards may be returned without recording.
The image below links to the South Carolina Archives and History, which holds older records useful for tracing property history in Spartanburg County before modern digitization.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History maintains state land grants, colonial plat books, and other historical records relevant to Spartanburg County property research.
The Archives holds Colonial Plat Books from 1731 to 1775 and State Plat Books from 1784 to 1868, documenting original grants for lands now within Spartanburg County.
Recording Requirements and Fees in Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County charges $15 for the first page and $2 for each additional page when recording standard real property instruments. Documents must use paper sized 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches. The top margin of the first page must be at least three inches for the recording stamp, and all other margins must be at least one inch. Text must be printed or typed in a legible font at a size no smaller than 10 points.
All deeds conveying real property in Spartanburg County are subject to the South Carolina Deed Recording Fee of $1.85 per $500 of consideration or value, or fraction thereof, on transactions of $100 or more. The fee is split between the state portion ($1.30 per $500) and the county portion ($0.55 per $500). The Register collects both portions and remits the state's share monthly through the MyDORWAY system. Certain transfers qualify for exemptions under South Carolina law, including transfers between spouses or immediate family members meeting statutory definitions, transfers to government entities, and certain conservation-related transfers.
Detailed guidance on what qualifies as taxable consideration and what exemptions apply is available in SC Revenue Ruling 17-5, published by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. This 39-page ruling addresses a wide range of transfer scenarios in a question-and-answer format that is useful for attorneys, title companies, and property owners in Spartanburg County.
SC-NC Boundary Clarification and Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County is one of the South Carolina counties directly affected by the SC-NC boundary clarification that took effect January 1, 2017. Under S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-5-270, some parcels previously believed to be in North Carolina were determined to lie within South Carolina after the boundary was redrawn. Spartanburg is among the listed border counties subject to this legislation.
For any affected parcel, the Register of Deeds was required to file a Notice of State Boundary Clarification in the public record. This notice alerts anyone checking title that instruments affecting the parcel may also be recorded in North Carolina public land records from the period before the boundary was clarified. Buyers, lenders, and title researchers working on property near the Spartanburg County line with North Carolina should search both states' records when tracing ownership history for that reason.
Note: If you are working on a title for property in the northern part of Spartanburg County, confirm whether the boundary clarification affects it before relying solely on Spartanburg County records.
Property Assessment in Spartanburg County
The Spartanburg County Assessor's Office identifies, classifies, and values all real property in the county for ad valorem taxation. The Assessor maintains records that include parcel identification numbers, ownership information, legal descriptions, and assessed values. When a deed is recorded with the Register of Deeds, the Assessor's records are updated to reflect the ownership change.
Under S.C. Code Title 12, Chapter 37, the assessment ratio for owner-occupied primary residences in Spartanburg County is 4% of fair market value. Agricultural property in active use also carries a 4% rate. Other real estate, including commercial property, rental units, and second homes, is assessed at 6%. South Carolina requires a countywide reassessment every five years. Between reassessments, Act 388 limits increases in taxable value to 15% per cycle for property that has not been transferred.
When a property is sold or transferred and meets the criteria for an Assessable Transfer of Interest (ATI), it is placed on the tax rolls at full fair market value for the year following the transfer, regardless of where the county is in its reassessment schedule. This means buyers in Spartanburg County should expect their first tax bill after purchase to reflect the sale price rather than a capped value carried over from the previous owner.
The image below links to the South Carolina Code of Laws governing property taxation, including the ATI provisions that affect Spartanburg County property owners after every recorded transfer.
The South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 12, Chapter 37 governs property assessment and the ATI process for all Spartanburg County real estate transactions.
Review Title 12, Chapter 37 for the specific assessment ratio rules and the countywide reassessment cycle requirements that apply in Spartanburg County.
Historical Records for Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County was established in 1785 as one of the original counties formed after the American Revolution. Property records from the early period of the county's history are held by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia. These historical collections include colonial and state land grants, surveyor general plat books, and early deed records for lands that are now part of Spartanburg County.
For research on Spartanburg County properties from the mid-twentieth century onward, the Register of Deeds maintains a well-indexed collection that can be accessed at the office or through the SC Land Records portal online. Researchers tracing longer chains of title that stretch back before the Register's modern records will need to consult Archives and History staff for guidance on the older collections available for this region of South Carolina.
Statewide Tools for Spartanburg County Research
The SC Land Records portal is one of the most useful online tools for searching Spartanburg County property records. The portal provides a statewide index of recorded instruments searchable by grantor and grantee name. Results include a brief property description and reference to the book and page location for each document. Use the portal as a starting point, then confirm findings by pulling the actual document from the Register of Deeds.
The SC Land Records portal at sclandrecords.com indexes ownership and document data across South Carolina counties. This tool gives quick access to current ownership information and parcel details for Spartanburg County properties.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch at sccourts.org maintains court records that may intersect with property records for Spartanburg County. Foreclosure proceedings, judgment liens from civil cases, and estate matters affecting real property are all part of the court record. Searching the Judicial Branch public index along with the Register of Deeds gives a more complete picture of liens and encumbrances on any Spartanburg County parcel.
Cities in Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County is home to several cities and communities. All real property instruments for parcels located within Spartanburg County boundaries are recorded at the Spartanburg County Register of Deeds regardless of city limits.
Spartanburg is the county seat and largest city. Greer spans portions of both Spartanburg and Greenville counties.
Nearby Counties
Spartanburg County borders five South Carolina counties and shares a line with North Carolina. Each county has its own recording office. Confirm the county of any parcel before ordering records.