Search Lexington County, SC Property Records

Lexington County, South Carolina, maintains its property and land records through a network of county and municipal offices, each with distinct responsibilities.

At the county level, offices process and preserve key transaction documents, including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens, as well as property assessments and tax-related filings. Municipal offices separately manage zoning, land-use enforcement, and building permits for properties within their limits.

Data from the most recent property records indicates a median home value of $167,150.00 in the county, with median rent recorded at $986.50. The median household income is $59,537.00, and the average property tax levy is reported at 0.51%.

Lexington County, SC, makes property records accessible through both digital and traditional channels.

Online search tools are available around the clock for the general public's use. The county operates the Property Search tool for property information, assessment, and sales records. Meanwhile, deeds and lien filings are searchable through the Register of Deeds Search portal.

PropertyChecker can also be used to locate recorded property information for research, reporting, or general inquiry purposes through a centralized digital interface. It can analyze property backgrounds, review past records, and better understand how a parcel has been documented over time.

Those requiring physical document inspection or notarized copies may need to visit the relevant county office in person. Written requests can also be submitted by mail or email, depending on the office and the nature of the request. Telephone contact remains another option for straightforward record questions.

When searching, individuals are encouraged to prepare identifying information to filter results accordingly. A street address, parcel identification number, or the name of the property owner is typically sufficient for general searches. For document-specific searches, party names, recording dates, and document types are generally required.

Not all records are publicly available. Documents tied to active legal proceedings or flagged under privacy protections may require a written request and a documented purpose for release. Additionally, not all records have been digitized and may require an in-person visit to the appropriate office.

Property Ownership and Title Information

Ownership documents and title records for Lexington County properties are filed and publicly accessible through the Register of Deeds.

Recorded deeds, including warranty, quitclaim, life estate, and corrective deeds, can identify who holds legal ownership of a parcel at any given time. Title records such as mortgages, liens, and easements further affect a property by creating financial obligations, imposing use restrictions, or establishing third-party claims that remain attached until formally discharged.

Online access to these instruments is provided through the Register of Deeds Search portal. In-person access is facilitated at the office location.

Property Sales and Transaction History

Lexington County residents can use the Sales/Deed Information Search feature on the Property Search portal to view property sales and transaction history. This tool can reveal sale amounts, transfer dates, and grantor and grantee information tied to each recorded transaction.

Alternatively, individuals can refer to deed documents maintained by the Register of Deeds that record each sale transaction. These can show party names and consideration amount, if disclosed.

PropertyChecker can also provide consolidated sales and transaction records tied to a specific parcel. It can analyze similar transactions across the county for comparative market valuations.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

Property tax assessments in Lexington County are maintained by the County Assessor. Its property tax assessors are responsible for determining each parcel's value and applicable assessment ratio.

Current assessment data, including exemptions and property classifications, can be reviewed through the Property Search tool, particularly the Property Information Search feature. Meanwhile, a PDF version of a property's assessment notice can be downloaded using the portal's Assessment Notice Search.

Property owners disputing an assessed value may submit a written appeal to the Lexington County Board of Assessment Appeals. Unresolved appeals may be escalated to the South Carolina Administrative Law Court.

The County Treasurer maintains property tax payment history and current balances. It provides a Tax Search system that allows one to look up and pay outstanding balances online.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

Lexington County property characteristics and parcel details are accessible through the Property Search portal. This tool enables users to conduct property parcel searches using owner name, address, and other criteria.

Retrieved records from the portal generally include lot dimensions, total living area, year of construction, number of structures, and land use classification. Additional physical attributes, such as building materials, utility connections, and the number of rooms, may also be documented.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

The Lexington County Community Development Department maintains and provides access to zoning, land use, and planning records through its office and online.

This department processes zoning permit applications, map amendment requests, variance petitions, and zoning violation complaints covering unincorporated portions of the county. Records on file may include zoning district classifications, issued zoning permits, approved variances, and conditional use determinations.

Properties located within incorporated city or town limits fall outside the county zoning authority. Residents in these areas should direct zoning and land use inquiries to the applicable municipal planning and zoning department.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

Legal documents that affect Lexington County properties are filed with the Register of Deeds. These instruments are searchable through the office's online Search portal and in person.

Commonly recorded instruments include mortgages, mechanic's and judgment liens, easements, and restrictive covenants. Under state law, these filings serve as constructive notice to all parties, meaning recorded encumbrances and claims are legally presumed to be known to any buyer or interested party, regardless of actual awareness at the time of the transaction.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

The Community Development Department manages building permits, inspections, and construction records for unincorporated Lexington County.

This department maintains records of issued permits, inspection logs, and certificates of occupancy for both residential and commercial projects. Inquiries regarding these records may be directed by email to BuildingInspections@lexingtoncounty.sc.gov. Residents can also use the Online Building Permit Portal to apply for a permit and request an inspection remotely.

Within incorporated municipalities, these records are handled separately. For example, Cayce residents may reach out to the City of Cayce Building Services for inspection, permit, and code-compliance inquiries.

Maps and Visual Property Data

Property owners can refer to the Lexington County Planning and GIS Department for county geographic data, including maps and visual property details. The department maintains the County One Map, an interactive tool that covers almost 138,000 parcels countywide.

Users can view parcel boundaries, land area, dimensions, and overlays through the platform. The One Map also offers a basemap gallery featuring yearly aerial imagery, which enables users to observe how individual parcels and surrounding areas have developed over time.

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

Median Rent

$986.50

South Carolina	$818.00
National	$840.25

• +20.6 %
  vs South Carolina
• +17.4 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$167,150.00

South Carolina	$125,800.00
National	$173,750.00

• +32.9 %
  vs South Carolina
• -3.8 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$59,537.00

South Carolina	$51,386.00
National	$65,108.00

• +15.9 %
  vs South Carolina
• -8.6 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

0.51%

South Carolina	0.53%
National	0.74%

• -3.8%
  vs South Carolina
• -31.1 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

3.21%

South Carolina	3.05%
National	2.87%

• +5.2 %
  vs South Carolina
• +11.8 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

19.96%

South Carolina	24.18%
National	21.81%

• -17.5 %
  vs South Carolina
• -8.5 %
  vs National

The Register of Deeds in Lexington County serves as the official office for recording and preserving all real property documents in the county. Instruments on file include deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, easements, rights of way, and satisfactions.

All records maintained by the office are public and largely accessible online via the Register of Deeds Search portal. This system requires account creation and covers indexed data from August 1984, with document images available from January 1997 to the present.

If the desired record is not available online, it can be accessed in person at the office, 212 South Lake Drive, Suite 301, Lexington, SC 29072, during regular operating hours.

Land document copies cost $0.50 per page, while a certified true copy costs $10 on top of per-page copy fees. For additional fee details, interested parties can check the full fee schedule.

Records filed with this office directly affect data maintained by other county departments. Deed recordings update ownership information in the Assessor's records, while plats establish parcel boundaries used by the GIS Department. Recorded liens and restrictive covenants may also be considered in land use reviews conducted by the Community Development Department.

Lexington County encompasses 15 incorporated towns and communities, each governed independently with its own offices responsible for local property and development functions. Matters such as zoning enforcement, planning oversight, and building regulation for properties inside these boundaries are handled at the municipal level.

Listed below are the incorporated municipalities within Lexington County and their official government websites:

• Summit (no official website)

• Batesburg-Leesville
• Cayce
• Columbia
• Chapin
• Gaston
• Gilbert
• Irmo
• Lexington
• Pelion
• Pine Ridge
• South Congaree
• Springdale
• Swansea
• West Columbia