Carolina Forest Public Records
Carolina Forest is an unincorporated community in Horry County, South Carolina. There is no separate municipal government for Carolina Forest, which means public records are maintained at the county level through Horry County rather than a city hall. The Horry County government handles police records, court records, property documents, and all FOIA requests for the Carolina Forest area. This guide explains how to find and request public records in Carolina Forest through the correct Horry County offices.
Carolina Forest Quick Facts
Public Records in Carolina Forest
Because Carolina Forest is unincorporated, all public records are managed at the Horry County level. There is no Carolina Forest City Hall or City Clerk. The Horry County government at horrycountysc.gov is the primary source for public records for Carolina Forest residents. Records held at the county level include Horry County Council meeting minutes, ordinances, county contracts, budget documents, property tax records, voter registration, building permits, and planning and zoning records for unincorporated areas.
The Horry County Clerk of Court maintains court records for all of Horry County, including cases from the Carolina Forest area. The county government is organized by department, with each department managing its own records. Public safety is provided by the Horry County Police Department. Fire and EMS services come from Horry County Fire Rescue. Building permits are issued through Horry County's planning department. All of these departments hold public records related to their activities in Carolina Forest.
Horry County government's main website provides access to department contacts, public meeting agendas, and online services. Start there to identify which department holds the records you need.
The County Council represents Carolina Forest area residents. Meeting minutes, agendas, and Council decisions that affect the Carolina Forest community are public records available through Horry County's records system.
Note: For records related to services at Shaw Air Force Base or other federal facilities near the area, contact the relevant federal agency directly, as those records are not part of Horry County's public record system.
Carolina Forest Police Records
Law enforcement in Carolina Forest is provided by the Horry County Police Department, not a city police force. The Horry County Police Department handles incident reports, accident reports, arrest records, and FOIA requests for law enforcement records in the Carolina Forest area. Contact Horry County Police for records requests related to incidents in Carolina Forest.
The nearest city with a municipal police department is Conway, the Horry County seat. Conway is located at 1001 3rd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526, and can be reached at 843-248-1760. Conway provides public records through its FOIA process at conwaysc.gov. Fee schedules for Conway FOIA copies are set per SC FOIA law, including $0.25 per page for letter, legal, and ledger-size copies and a prorated hourly rate for search time. Electronic media copies include the cost of the media plus the prorated hourly rate.
For statewide criminal background checks covering the Carolina Forest area, use the SLED CATCH system at $25 per search. The system searches by name and date of birth. The SLED Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable online by name or location for all of Horry County, including Carolina Forest.
How to Request Public Records in Carolina Forest
All requests for public records in the Carolina Forest area go through Horry County. Submit written FOIA requests to the relevant Horry County department or to the County Administrator's office. Mail or in-person delivery to the Horry County government complex works for most requests. The county follows South Carolina's FOIA law at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4.
Horry County must respond within 10 business days for records under 24 months old. Records older than 24 months require a 20-business-day response. Documents must be produced within 30 calendar days for recent records and 35 days for older ones. Standard paper copy fees run around $0.25 per page. Electronic records are typically provided at no charge. Staff search time for complex requests may carry a fee based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee who can fulfill the request.
You are not required to state a reason for your request. No ID is required for non-restricted records. The SC Privacy Protection Act prohibits using information from public records for commercial solicitation under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-2-50. A violation is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $500, up to one year in jail, or both. The county does not guarantee that a records search will find responsive records for every request.
Carolina Forest Court Records
Court cases involving Carolina Forest residents are filed and maintained at the Horry County Clerk of Court. The county courthouse is located in Conway. The Clerk maintains General Sessions (criminal), Common Pleas (civil), and Family Court records for all of Horry County. These records include cases that originated in the Carolina Forest area.
The Horry County Public Index provides free online access to court records for Horry County. Search by case number, party name, or court type. The index covers Circuit Court, Family Court, and summary courts for all of Horry County. Case status, hearing dates, and disposition information are available. Document images are accessible for most cases. The index is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and no account is required to search.
For traffic and summary court cases in the Carolina Forest area, use the statewide SC Public Index, which covers all counties. Select Horry County and choose the summary court filter to find magistrate court cases from the Carolina Forest area. The SC C-Track system provides case scheduling and status information for courts statewide.
Searching Carolina Forest Records Online
Several online tools give access to public records for the Carolina Forest area. The Horry County Public Index is the main court records resource. The SC Secretary of State entity search covers businesses registered in Horry County, including those in Carolina Forest. Voter registration for Carolina Forest residents can be verified at scvotes.gov.
Historical records and archival documents are maintained by the SC Department of Archives and History. The SLED website provides public safety resources and law enforcement information for the state. State prison records are searchable through the SC Department of Corrections. The SC Department of Public Safety handles highway patrol accident reports for crashes on public roads near Carolina Forest. For crashes handled by Horry County Police, contact the department directly.
Property records for Carolina Forest are held by Horry County. The county assessor and Register of Deeds offices maintain land ownership, deed, and property tax records for the entire county, including unincorporated areas like Carolina Forest.
Horry County Public Records
Carolina Forest is in Horry County. Major court and property records for Carolina Forest are maintained at the Horry County courthouse. Visit the county page for complete records resources.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Cities near Carolina Forest each have their own records offices. Choose a nearby city below to learn about public records access in that area.