Charleston Public Records
Charleston public records cover a broad range of documents held by city departments, the police department, and the county court system. Residents, attorneys, journalists, and members of the public can request these records through the City Clerk's office or by contacting the relevant department directly. Charleston operates under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, which gives the public the right to inspect and obtain copies of city records. This guide walks through the key sources for searching and obtaining Charleston public records.
Charleston Quick Facts
Public Records in Charleston
Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina. Its public records span a wide range of documents managed across several offices. The City Clerk serves as the primary custodian of city records and administers FOIA requests for most city departments. Records available through the City Clerk include City Council agendas and minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and administrative documents. The Clerk also manages board and commission appointment records and publishes public meeting notices as required by law.
Property records for Charleston are held at the Charleston County Register Mesne Conveyance office, which uses a historically distinct name for what most counties call the Register of Deeds. This office maintains deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens going back to colonial times. Court filings for civil, criminal, and family matters are handled by the Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401.
The City Clerk's office is your starting point for most municipal records requests. You can also use the city's FOIA request form available through the city's document center. Records available include permits, contracts, budgets, and other administrative files maintained by city departments.
Note: Some records may be withheld under the FOIA exemptions in South Carolina Code Title 30, Chapter 4, including personnel files and documents related to active law enforcement investigations.
Charleston Police Department Records
The Charleston Police Department maintains a Records Division that processes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other police records. Incident reports are available to persons directly involved in the incident, as well as authorized representatives. Third-party requests may require written authorization. Records related to active or ongoing investigations are generally exempt from public release.
Accident reports can often be requested online through the department's records process or through third-party retrieval services. The Charleston Police Department also handles 911 call records, though specific call details are required to locate them. Arrest records and booking information are public records under South Carolina law and can be accessed through the Records Division.
The city's police department has adopted body camera policies that govern the release of video footage. Such requests are treated as FOIA requests and subject to the standard response timelines. Contact the Charleston Police Department directly to determine what information is needed to file a records request.
The City of Charleston website at charleston-sc.gov provides access to department contacts and FOIA request procedures for city records.
Note: Arrest records and booking information are public in South Carolina, but records tied to charges that were dismissed or expunged may be restricted.
How to Request Charleston Public Records
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act is found at Title 30, Chapter 4 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Under this law, any person can request public records from a government body. Requests do not need to explain why the records are wanted. The city must respond within 10 business days for records less than 24 months old, and within 20 business days for older records. Once a request is approved, the records must be produced within 30 calendar days.
Written requests are strongly recommended. Submit your request to the Charleston City Clerk's Office or directly to the department that holds the records. The request should clearly describe the records sought, including any dates, names, or document numbers that will help the city locate them.
Fees may apply. The city can charge for staff time in searching and retrieving records, at a rate not exceeding the prorated hourly salary of the lowest-paid employee with the necessary skills. Paper copies may cost up to $0.25 per page. Electronic records delivered by email or download carry no copy charge. A deposit of up to 25% of the estimated cost may be required before the city begins the search.
If the city fails to respond within the required timeframe, the request is deemed approved for non-exempt records. Citizens who believe a request was wrongfully denied can seek relief through circuit court within one year of the alleged violation. Courts that find an agency acted arbitrarily may impose a civil fine of $500.
Charleston Court Records
Municipal court records for the City of Charleston are maintained at the Charleston Municipal Court. This court handles traffic citations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and city ordinance violations within Charleston city limits. Court dockets are public records and can be reviewed during regular business hours. Fine payment records and case dispositions are also available through the court office.
For major civil and criminal matters, the Charleston County Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street maintains General Sessions (criminal), Common Pleas (civil), and Family Court records. You can search most Charleston County court cases for free using the South Carolina Judicial Branch case records search. The Public Index provides access to case numbers, party names, hearing dates, and case status. As of January 2026, home addresses of parties have been removed from the Public Index to protect personal privacy.
Note: Some case records may be sealed or restricted by court order, including certain juvenile cases and matters involving domestic violence protective orders.
Searching Charleston Records Online
Several online tools are available for searching Charleston public records without submitting a formal FOIA request. The SC Public Index at sccourts.org provides free court record searches across all South Carolina counties, including Charleston. You can search by party name, case number, or court type to find civil, criminal, and family court cases.
For criminal background checks, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division operates the CATCH system, which allows name-based criminal history searches for a $25 fee. The CATCH system searches only South Carolina records and requires a name and date of birth. It does not include sex offender registry information, which is available separately at the SLED Sex Offender Registry.
Property records for Charleston can be searched through the Charleston County Register Mesne Conveyance, which maintains online deed search tools. Business entity records are available at no charge through the South Carolina Secretary of State's business filings search. Voter registration and election records are accessible through the SC State Election Commission.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at scdah.sc.gov holds historical records including older land grants, plats, and state agency records dating back to the colonial era. These records can be valuable for genealogical research tied to the Charleston area.
Charleston Property and Vital Records
Property records in Charleston are divided between the city and the county. The Charleston County Register Mesne Conveyance at 101 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401 is the official repository for deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, and other land documents. Current records are searchable online, while historical records from 1719 onward may require in-person research at the county offices or through the Charleston County Public Library's historical archive at ccpl.org.
Vital records such as birth and death certificates are not held by the City of Charleston. These records are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Marriage licenses are issued by the Charleston County Probate Court.
Charleston County Public Records
Charleston is located in Charleston County. Court filings and property records for Charleston are maintained at the Charleston County courthouse. For complete county-level records, visit the Charleston County public records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Charleston is surrounded by a number of major South Carolina communities. Each nearby city maintains its own public records through local government offices and the shared state court system.