Charleston County

Charleston County includes the municipalities of Charleston area, North Charleston area, Mount Pleasant, Summerville (partially), Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, and several other incorporated towns. Major landmarks include Fort Sumter National Monument, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired; the historic Charleston City Market; the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge spanning the Cooper River; and the picturesque beaches of Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island.

Charleston County government operates from the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building located at 4045 Bridge View Drive in North Charleston. Charleston County Register of Deeds (Recorder) maintains property records and is accessible at the same location, while Charleston County Assessor's Office, responsible for property valuations, operates from 4045 Bridge View Drive as well. Charleston County Clerk of Court manages court records and is located at Charleston County Judicial Center at 100 Broad Street in downtown Charleston.

Charleston County's economy thrives on tourism, maritime commerce through the Port of Charleston County, aerospace manufacturing with Boeing's major presence, and a growing technology sector anchored by institutions like the Medical University of South Carolina.

general inquiries. Municipal law enforcement is provided by several agencies including Charleston Police Department serving the city of Charleston, the North Charleston Police Department, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the Summerville Police Department (serving portions within Charleston County), and smaller departments in Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan's Island. Arrest records in Charleston County are considered public information under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (SC Code § 30-4-10 et seq.), which requires government agencies to provide access to public records upon request.

For historical arrest records or reports requiring certification, requesters should contact the Records Division of the specific law enforcement agency that made the arrest, and fees may apply for copies and research time as permitted under South Carolina law.

South Carolina offers an online case search system through the South Carolina Judicial Department's Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org, where users can search Charleston County civil and criminal cases by party name, case number, or attorney. Charleston County Probate Court, located at 100 Broad Street, Suite 302, handles estates, wills, guardianships, and mental health commitments; their phone number is. Municipal courts operate in Charleston area, North Charleston County, Mount Pleasant, and other incorporated municipalities, handling traffic violations, city ordinance violations, and misdemeanor offenses.

Public access to court records in South Carolina is governed by Rule 41 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and SC Code § 30-4-10 et seq. (Freedom of Information Act). Most court records are public unless sealed by court order or protected by statute.

Charleston County provides strong online access to recorded documents through its official property records search portal at Charleston County-sc.devnetwedge.com, where users can search by grantor/grantee name, book and page, document type, or parcel identification number. Charleston County Assessor's Office, also located at 4045 Bridge View Drive (phone: 843-958-4100), maintains property tax assessment records and provides public access through Charleston County GIS and property search system at gis.charlestoncounty.org. This interactive mapping tool allows users to search by address, owner name, or parcel number to view property characteristics, assessed values, sales history, tax information, and aerial imagery.

The state Vital Records office is located at 2600 Bull Street in Columbia, SC 29201, and can be contacted through the office’s website. Birth certificates cost $17.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously; death certificates cost $17.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for additional copies. South Carolina offers online ordering of vital records through VitalChek at scdhec.gov/vitalrecords, where applicants can order birth and death certificates with credit card payment and receive documents within 7-10 business days (express shipping available). Requesters must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record as required by South Carolina law; eligible requesters include the registrant (if of legal age), parents, legal guardians, spouse, adult children, and legal representatives.

South Carolina has no waiting period for marriage licenses, and the license is valid for 24 hours after issuance with no expiration date.

Municipalities including Charleston County, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and Summerville issue their own business licenses for operations within city limits; the City of Charleston area Business License Division can be reached, while North Charleston's Business License office is for Business entity formation and corporate records are maintained by the South Carolina Secretary of State's office, which provides a free online Business Entities Online search tool at businessfilings.sc.gov where users can search corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other registered entities by name or file number. Fictitious name registrations (DBA - Doing Business As) for sole proprietorships and partnerships operating under assumed names must be filed with Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street (phone: 843-958-5000), and these records are public information available for inspection. Professional and occupational licenses in South Carolina are generally issued by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) at llr.sc.gov.

Building permits, zoning approvals, and development applications in unincorporated Charleston County are processed through Charleston County Building Inspections Department and Planning Department, both located at 4045 Bridge View Drive (Building Inspections: 843-202-6960). Charleston County Metro Chamber of Commerce, located at 4500 Leeds Avenue, Suite 200, North Charleston, SC 29405 (website: Charleston Countychamber.org), is a business advocacy and networking organization for Charleston County.

Citizens, at least 18 years old by election day, residents of South Carolina and Charleston County, and not under a court order declaring them mentally incompetent or currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction. South Carolina offers online voter registration through the state's election website at scVOTES.gov, operated by the South Carolina State Election Commission. The voter registration deadline in South Carolina is 30 days prior to any election.

Registered voters can verify their registration status, find their polling place, and view sample ballots through Charleston County elections website or the state's scVOTES.gov portal by entering their name and date of birth. Charleston County operates approximately 120 polling locations across Charleston County on election day, with locations searchable by address on Charleston County website. Early voting (in-person absentee voting) is available at Charleston County Voter Registration office and several satellite locations for approximately two weeks before each election, Monday through Saturday with extended evening hours.

South Carolina election records that are public information include voter registration rolls (excluding certain personal information like full social security numbers and birthdates), campaign finance disclosures filed with the State Ethics Commission, candidate filings and qualifications, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 general election, Charleston County recorded approximately 60-63% voter turnout among registered voters, slightly above South Carolina's statewide average and reflecting strong civic engagement in this growing county. The next major election will be held on November 3, 2026, featuring U.S.

House of Representatives races for South Carolina's congressional districts (Charleston County spans portions of the 1st and 6th districts), state legislative races for South Carolina House and Senate seats, and various county and municipal offices. South Carolina offers absentee voting by mail for voters who meet specific criteria including age 65 or older, physical disability, authorized absence from county on election day, government service, or religious reasons. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through scVOTES.gov, by mail, or in person at Charleston County Voter Registration office; completed ballots must be received (not just postmarked) by 7:00 PM on election day.

Charleston County demonstrates strong transparency in election administration by providing online access to election results, sample ballots, polling place information, and voter registration statistics, all in compliance with South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act and election laws codified in SC Code Title 7.

Major employers in Charleston County include the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), which employs over 17,000 people and operates a nationally recognized academic medical center; Boeing South Carolina, which manufactures the 787 Dreamliner at its North Charleston facility and employs approximately 6,000 workers; the Joint Base Charleston County (combining the former local residents Air Force Base and Naval Weapons Station), which contributes significantly to Charleston Countyal economy with military and civilian personnel; Bosch, Robert Half, Blackbaud, and numerous other corporations.The median household income in Charleston County is approximately $67,000, above the South Carolina state average, though income levels vary significantly across Charleston County's diverse communities. Key economic sectors include professional and business services, healthcare and social assistance, accommodation and food services, manufacturing (particularly aerospace and automotive suppliers), retail trade, and educational services. The unemployment rate in Charleston County typically runs below the national average, ranging between 2.5% and 4.0% in recent years.

Notable economic development projects include the expansion of the Volvo Cars manufacturing facility in Berkeley County (adjacent to Charleston County), continued growth of the technology corridor along I-26, development of medical and research facilities at MUSC, and ongoing port infrastructure improvements to accommodate larger container ships.