Search Berkeley County, SC Property Records

County offices primarily handle property records for Berkeley County, South Carolina. Various agencies oversee deed recordings, assessment data, and parcel information. While most foundational records are available at the county level, some are available at the local level, especially those concerning zoning and development activity within their limits.

The county's real estate landscape shows a median home value of $228,000.00, while renters typically pay around $1,006.00. Residents earn a median household income of $56,621.00, and property owners generally pay 0.47% in real estate taxes.

Berkeley County, SC, property records are accessible through several methods, with online portals generally offering the fastest path to information.

The Property Card Search can be searched by owner name, street address, or tax map sequence (TMS) number. Property cards returned through this tool may contain summary information, owner and previous owner history, valuation data, sales information, tax history, fee summaries, and building details.

For deed and land instruments, the Real Estate Look Up is available. It accepts searches by grantor or grantee name, recording date, book and page numbers, and document type.

PropertyChecker provides an additional layer of access to property records. It draws data from public databases and third-party providers. It may return results such as ownership information, valuation figures, deed history, and prior sales data, all compiled to give researchers and prospective buyers a working overview before turning to county sources.

Users who prefer offline methods may access records in person at the relevant custodian's office. Requests may also be sent by mail to the office's address or via email, if permitted.

Public access to Berkeley County property records is generally available under South Carolina law, though some limitations apply. Sensitive personal identifiers may be redacted, and older records may only be reviewed in person. Some online portals may not yet include recent transactions, and fees may apply for document copies.

The sections that follow outline where and how to locate specific types of property information across the county.

Property Ownership and Title Information

The Register of Deeds maintains ownership and title records in Berkeley County. Documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens may include the owner's name, the date of conveyance, and financial encumbrances on a property.

These instruments may be reviewed in person at the Moncks Corner office. They are also searchable through the Real Estate Look Up by grantor or grantee name, recording date, book and page number, or document type.

Property Sales and Transaction History

Interested parties seeking sales and transaction data tied to a Berkeley County parcel may refer to the recorded deed of conveyance on file with the Register of Deeds. These instruments typically capture the buyer and seller names, the date the transaction was recorded, and the sale price, where disclosed.

Beyond deed records, the Property Card Search includes a dedicated sales history section that contains prior recorded transfers associated with that property. The system also features a Comparable Sales Search function that allows users to filter parcels by matching sale descriptions.

For those seeking a wider view, PropertyChecker draws transaction data that may assist with comparing market valuations across multiple properties.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

Property tax assessors in Berkeley County operate under the Real Property Services Office. They value parcels for taxation purposes on a periodic reassessment cycle. Individual assessment records, such as assessed value, exemption status, and property classification, are searchable through the Property Card Search.

Owners who dispute a property's assessed value may file a formal appeal with the office. Filing requirements and procedural guidance are available on the Appeals Process page.

For tax billing and payment history, the Treasurer is the appropriate point of contact. Delinquent balances are handled separately through the Delinquent Tax Collector. Outstanding tax obligations may also be reviewed and settled online via the Property Tax Payment Portal.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

Parcel characteristics for Berkeley County properties are accessible through a property parcel search conducted via the Property Card Search. A search may be initiated using the owner's name, the property's street address, or its assigned Tax Map Sequence (TMS) number.

Once a parcel is located, the resulting record may return details such as lot size, building square footage, year of construction, number of stories, bedroom and bathroom count, construction materials, and land use classification. If applicable, the card may also cover accessory structures and notable improvement details recorded at the time of the most recent assessment.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

Zoning, land use, and planning records of properties in unincorporated areas of Berkeley County are managed by the County Planning and Zoning Department. This department oversees zoning maps, land-use designations, rezoning cases, and development plans. Records can be accessed on the department's official website or in person at the office.

For incorporated municipalities, zoning and land use records are handled locally. The City of Goose Creek Planning and Zoning Department, for instance, manages zoning ordinances and land-use regulations within the city limits. Residents can contact or visit this municipal office for jurisdiction-specific zoning information.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

The Register of Deeds is the primary custodian of legal documents affecting Berkeley County properties.

Commonly recorded legal filings include deeds, which document the transfer of ownership, and mortgages and liens, which attach financial claims. Easements and restrictive covenants are also available that impose binding use conditions. Once recorded, these documents become part of the public record and can be retrieved in the office or via the Real Estate Look Up tool.

Judgments, lis pendens notices, and other court-generated instruments that may cloud title can be obtained from the Clerk of Court.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

Building permits and construction records within the county’s incorporated cities and towns fall under municipal authority.

The City of Hanahan Building and Code Enforcement Department, for example, processes permit applications, maintains inspection reports, enforces local building codes, and issues certificates of occupancy. Residents may retrieve these records through the city's online portal or by contacting the municipal office directly.

Unincorporated areas of the county are served by two county offices. The Permitting Department administers the Builder's Portal, a platform for submitting applications and tracking permit progress. Inspections, code enforcement actions, and associated construction records are handled separately by the Building and Codes Enforcement Department.

Maps and Visual Property Data

The Berkeley County GIS Web Map serves as the county's official spatial mapping tool for its approximately 130,000 parcels. This platform features an interactive, layer-based interface that may display parcel boundaries, ownership information, zoning overlays, physical address points, road networks, flood zones, and aerial imagery.

A specific parcel can be searched on the map using the owner's name, address, or tax map sequence (TMS) number. Users can also select individual parcels directly on the map to surface associated property details.

For additional mapping resources and custom map requests, contact the county GIS Department.

Displayed here are charts summarizing the county's tax rates, accompanied by insights into median home values, income figures, and rent rates.

Median Rent

$1,006.00

South Carolina	$818.00
National	$840.25

• +23.0 %
  vs South Carolina
• +19.7 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$228,000.00

South Carolina	$125,800.00
National	$173,750.00

• +81.2 %
  vs South Carolina
• +31.2 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$56,621.00

South Carolina	$51,386.00
National	$65,108.00

• +10.2 %
  vs South Carolina
• -13.0 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

0.47%

South Carolina	0.53%
National	0.74%

• -11.3%
  vs South Carolina
• -36.5 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

2.65%

South Carolina	3.05%
National	2.87%

• -13.1 %
  vs South Carolina
• -7.7 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

29.32%

South Carolina	24.18%
National	21.81%

• +21.3 %
  vs South Carolina
• +34.4 %
  vs National

The Register of Deeds records and maintains documents that show how property is owned, encumbered, and defined across Berkeley County. Its holdings typically encompass warranty and quitclaim deeds, plats, mortgages, easements, restrictive covenants, and liens.

The Real Estate Look Up is the principal online resource for searching these records. This system provides index information and document images for all records from July 1, 1983, to the present. It also has deed and miscellaneous document images dating back to January 1974, and plat images dating back to 1884.

For records outside the online scope, in-person visits and mailed requests are accommodated.

Copies of recorded instruments can be obtained for a nominal fee. Certified true copies are available at $10 per document. For standard copy rates, contact the Register of Deeds at (843) 719-4084.

Note that beyond serving as a public archive, the recorded instruments carry practical weight across other county offices. Deed conveyances prompt ownership updates within Real Property Services assessment files. Recorded plats feed directly into parcel boundary data referenced countywide, and easements and restrictive covenants may also inform land use review.

Berkeley County includes eight incorporated cities and towns, each operating under its own local government structure. These municipalities manage zoning enforcement, planning activities, and building regulations for properties within their jurisdictions.

The incorporated areas in the county, along with links to their official websites, are provided below:

• Bonneau (no official website)

• Daniel Island
• Goose Creek
• Hanahan
• Jamestown
• Moncks Corner
• St. Stephen
• Summerville