Spartanburg Public Records
Spartanburg public records are maintained by the City of Spartanburg and are accessible under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act. City Hall is at 145 W. Broad Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. Records from city departments, the police department, municipal court, and city clerk are all available through request. This guide covers how to find and obtain public records in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Spartanburg Quick Facts
Public Records in Spartanburg
The City of Spartanburg operates from City Hall at 145 W. Broad Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. The main phone is 864-596-2000. Spartanburg public records available at City Hall include council meeting minutes and agendas, city ordinances, resolutions, contracts, budget documents, business licenses, building permits, and planning records. Many of these are posted online and accessible without a formal request.
The City Clerk is the official records custodian for Spartanburg. The Clerk's office at cityofspartanburg.org processes FOIA requests, maintains City Council legislative history, coordinates boards and commissions, and provides notary services. All written FOIA requests for city records should go to the City Clerk at 145 W. Broad Street or through the contact options on the city website. Birth certificates, marriage licenses, death records, and property documents are obtained from state and county offices rather than the City Clerk.
The City of Spartanburg official website offers access to city services, department contacts, and many documents online. Council agendas and meeting minutes are posted there.
Note: Vital records such as birth and death certificates are obtained from SC DHEC. Marriage licenses come from Spartanburg County Probate Court. Property records are at the Spartanburg County Register of Deeds.
Spartanburg Police Records
The Spartanburg Police Department Records Division is located at Police Headquarters, 206 N. Forest Street, Spartanburg, SC 29301. Call 864-596-2035 to reach the Records Division. The division serves as centralized storage for all records related to police activities, including criminal reports and accident reports. Police Aides assist the public in obtaining records and speaking with officers.
Individuals involved in an incident may obtain copies of their reports at no charge. Third parties not named in the report pay $3 per incident or accident report. Fingerprinting services cost $5 per set and are cash only. Appointments for fingerprinting are required and must be made by calling 864-594-7257. Large groups or multiple sets of cards must specify details when booking.
The Records Division also handles FOIA requests for police records. Active investigation files are exempt from release. For background checks on any individual, the SLED CATCH system provides statewide criminal history for $25. The SLED Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable online by name or geographic area, including Spartanburg neighborhoods.
When making a records request to the Spartanburg Police Department, having the case number, date of the incident, names of individuals involved, and a description of the incident will speed up the retrieval process significantly.
How to Request Public Records in Spartanburg
All requests for Spartanburg public records must be in writing. Submit your request in person at City Hall or the relevant department, by mail, or by email. The City Clerk and department heads are the primary contacts for FOIA requests. Be as specific as possible when describing the records you need.
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at SC Code Title 30, Chapter 4 sets the response timeline. Spartanburg must respond within 10 business days for records under 24 months old. Records older than 24 months require a 20-business-day response. Once you receive a response, records must be produced within 30 calendar days for recent documents and 35 days for older ones. Failure to comply can lead to a $500 civil penalty.
Paper copies cost about $0.25 per page. Electronic copies are typically free. Complex requests requiring significant staff time may carry a fee based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee. No explanation of purpose is required. No ID is needed for non-restricted public records. Some records are exempt, including personnel files and active investigations.
Spartanburg Court Records
The Spartanburg Municipal Court is at City Hall and can be reached at 864-596-2009. The court handles traffic violations, city ordinance cases, and misdemeanors within Spartanburg city limits. Court dockets, case dispositions, and fine payment records are public documents. The court also provides certified copies of dispositions upon request.
To get a certified disposition from Spartanburg Municipal Court, contact the court clerk with your case number or name and date of birth. Visit the Spartanburg Municipal Court page for current procedures, fine payment options, and court scheduling. Appeals from Municipal Court go to the Spartanburg County Court of Common Pleas.
Circuit and family court records for Spartanburg County are searchable at no cost through the SC Public Index. The index covers all county-level courts in South Carolina. Search by name, case number, or court type. Document images are available for most cases, and the index is updated regularly by court clerks. The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office Records Section, separate from the city police, can be reached at 864-596-2222 for non-emergency inquiries about county-level records.
Searching Spartanburg Records Online
The SC Public Index is the main online tool for Spartanburg County court records. It is free and available around the clock. Business entities registered in Spartanburg appear in the SC Secretary of State entity search. Historical records are available at the SC Department of Archives and History.
The SLED website offers public safety resources including the sex offender registry and access to CATCH for criminal history searches. Voter records are verified at scvotes.gov. State inmate records are searchable through the SC Department of Corrections. Highway patrol accident reports go through the SC Department of Public Safety. For accidents handled by Spartanburg Police, contact the Records Division at 864-596-2035.
Spartanburg County Public Records
Spartanburg is in Spartanburg County. Major court and property records for Spartanburg are maintained at the Spartanburg County courthouse. Visit the county page for complete records resources.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Cities near Spartanburg each maintain records through their own offices. Select a city below to find public records information for that area.