Charleston County, South Carolina Public Records

Mugshots and booking photos in Charleston County are typically available through the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. These can be accessed online via the inmate search tool on the Sheriff's Office website. For physical copies or additional information, you may contact the Sheriff's Office directly.

To obtain a criminal background check in Charleston County, you should contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED provides a Criminal Records Check online service for a fee. You can visit the Charleston County Sheriff's Office for local background checks, which may require submitting a request form and paying a processing fee.

You can look up sex offenders in Charleston County by accessing the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry. This registry is maintained by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and provides an online search tool where you can search by name, address, or zip code to find registered sex offenders in the area.

Voter registration in Charleston County is handled by the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston (phone: 843-744-8683). South Carolina offers convenient online voter registration at scVOTES.gov, where eligible residents can register or update their information; the deadline to register is 30 days before any election. You can also register in person at the county elections office, at South Carolina DMV offices when obtaining or renewing a driver's license, or by submitting a paper application by mail. Absentee voting is available for eligible voters, and applications can be submitted online at scVOTES.gov or through the local elections office.

Property records in Charleston County are maintained by the Charleston County Register of Deeds at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston (phone: 843-958-4200). The county provides free online access to recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps at Charleston.devnetwedge.com, where you can search by owner name, document type, or parcel number. For property tax information and assessments, visit the local GIS system at gis.charlestoncounty.org, which offers interactive mapping, property characteristics, sales history, and tax records. Certified copies of documents can be obtained in person at the Register of Deeds office or requested by mail with appropriate fees.

Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Charleston County are issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Vital Records office in Columbia (phone: 803-898-3630). Certified copies cost $17.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for additional copies, with processing typically taking 4-6 weeks by mail. You can order online through VitalChek at scdhec.gov/vitalrecords for faster service (7-10 business days with expedited shipping available), and you must provide valid photo ID and demonstrate a direct relationship to the person on the record as required by SC Code § 44-63-10 et seq. Marriage licenses are issued by Charleston County Probate Court at 100 Broad Street, Suite 302 (phone: 843-958-5250).

Business licenses for unincorporated Charleston County are issued by the Charleston County Treasurer's Office at 4045 Bridge View Drive (phone: 843-958-4360), while municipalities issue their own licenses within city limits. For corporate entity information including LLCs, corporations, and partnerships registered in South Carolina, use the free South Carolina Secretary of State business search at businessfilings.sc.gov. Fictitious name registrations (DBAs) filed in Charleston County are maintained by the Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street (phone: 843-958-5000) and are available as public records. Professional licenses are typically issued by state agencies through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation at llr.sc.gov.