Georgetown County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Georgetown County?

Public records in Georgetown County, South Carolina, are defined under South Carolina Code § 30-4-20 as all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents maintained by county offices, courts, and administrative agencies.

The following record types are currently available through Georgetown County's various offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Georgetown County Clerk of Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property assessments maintained by the Register of Deeds and the Assessor's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Clerk of Court
Business records — business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by the Georgetown County Business License Office
Tax records — property tax bills, assessment records, and payment histories maintained by the Georgetown County Auditor and Treasurer
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Georgetown County Voter Registration and Elections Office
Meeting minutes and agendas — county council meeting minutes, board agendas, and resolutions maintained by the Georgetown County Administrator's Office
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports maintained by the Georgetown County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, maintained by the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and variance applications maintained by the Georgetown County Planning Department

Is Georgetown County an Open Records County?

Georgetown County operates in full compliance with South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which governs public access to government records and meetings throughout the state. Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-30, any person has the right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body, with limited exceptions enumerated in the statute. This framework establishes Georgetown County as an open records jurisdiction, meaning that the default presumption favors disclosure rather than withholding.

Key provisions of the South Carolina FOIA currently applicable to Georgetown County include:

Public bodies must respond to written records requests within ten business days, either by providing the records, denying the request with written justification, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed
Agencies may not require requesters to state a reason for seeking records in most circumstances
Public bodies must maintain a written public records policy and make it available upon request
Georgetown County Council meetings and most board proceedings are subject to the state's Sunshine Law requirements, ensuring public access to governmental deliberations

Georgetown County's compliance with these provisions is administered through individual department heads and the County Administrator's Office, which coordinates responses to FOIA requests submitted to multiple departments simultaneously.

How to Find Public Records in Georgetown County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Georgetown County public records through several official channels currently available. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office — Determine which county department or agency maintains the record type being sought. Property records are held by the Register of Deeds; court records by the Clerk of Court; vital records by DHEC or the Clerk of Court; and tax records by the Auditor or Treasurer.
Submit a written FOIA request — Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the relevant office. Requests should identify the records sought with reasonable specificity, including date ranges, names, or case numbers where applicable.
Use online portals — Georgetown County currently provides online access to certain property, tax, and court records through the Georgetown County government portal. The Register of Deeds and Assessor's Office maintain searchable online databases.
Visit in person — Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the relevant office without submitting a formal written request in many cases.
Allow the statutory response period — Under current law, agencies have ten business days to respond to written requests. Complex requests may require additional time, with written notification to the requester.
Appeal a denial — If a request is denied, the requester may seek judicial review in the circuit court of the county where the public body is located, pursuant to South Carolina FOIA provisions.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Georgetown County?

Current fees for public records in Georgetown County vary by record type and the office maintaining the documents. South Carolina law permits public bodies to charge reasonable fees for the search, retrieval, and copying of records, provided those fees do not exceed the actual cost of providing the records.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies — Typically $0.25 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents, consistent with state guidelines
Certified copies — Fees for certified copies of court records, deeds, and vital records vary by document type; the Clerk of Court currently charges per-page and per-document certification fees
Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies are generally assessed at the cost of the medium used (e.g., CD or USB drive) plus staff time for retrieval
Deed and property record copies — The Register of Deeds charges per-page fees for copies of recorded instruments
Vital records — DHEC charges a standard fee for certified copies of birth and death certificates

Accepted payment methods at most Georgetown County offices include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card, though accepted methods may vary by office. Under South Carolina Code § 30-4-30, fee waivers or reductions may be available when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest and the requester demonstrates that the primary purpose of the request is not commercial.

Does Georgetown County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at most Georgetown County offices during regular business hours, consistent with South Carolina FOIA requirements. No fee is charged solely for the act of inspecting records on-site; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online property search — The Georgetown County Assessor's Office provides free online access to property assessment data, ownership information, and parcel maps through the county's official website
Online tax records — The Georgetown County Treasurer's Office offers free online lookup of property tax payment status and billing information
Court records index — Basic case index information for Georgetown County courts is accessible through the South Carolina Judicial Department's online case search
Voter registration records — The Georgetown County Voter Registration and Elections Office provides access to voter registration information as permitted by state law
Meeting minutes and agendas — Georgetown County Council meeting minutes, agendas, and adopted budgets are posted at no charge on the county's official website

Who Can Request Public Records in Georgetown County?

Any person may request public records from Georgetown County agencies under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The statute does not limit access to South Carolina residents, and non-residents retain the same rights as county residents to inspect and copy public records.

Current eligibility and procedural requirements include:

No residency requirement — Requesters are not required to be residents of Georgetown County or South Carolina
No identification requirement — In most cases, requesters are not required to provide identification to inspect general public records
No purpose requirement — Requesters are generally not required to state the reason for their request, though some offices may ask for informational purposes
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are restricted by statute and may only be accessed by parties with a demonstrated legal interest or court authorization
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide identification and, in some cases, a notarized authorization form
Third-party records — Requests for records pertaining to other individuals may be subject to privacy-based exemptions under South Carolina law

What Records Are Confidential in Georgetown County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Georgetown County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under South Carolina law. South Carolina Code § 30-4-40 enumerates the specific exemptions applicable to public bodies throughout the state, establishing the categories of information that agencies are authorized or required to withhold.

Records currently exempt from disclosure in Georgetown County include:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under South Carolina law
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are redacted or withheld
Medical records — Health information protected under HIPAA and state law is not subject to public disclosure
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute
Child welfare and protective services records — Records of the Department of Social Services relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as names, titles, and compensation of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to the county in connection with licensing or procurement may be withheld
Security plans and infrastructure details — Documents describing security systems, emergency response plans, or critical infrastructure vulnerabilities are exempt from disclosure

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required under current law to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder of the document.

Georgetown County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Georgetown County Register of Deeds serves as the principal custodian of recorded land records, including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens. The Clerk of Court maintains court records, and the Assessor's Office maintains property assessment data.

Georgetown County Register of Deeds 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: (843) 545-3088 Georgetown County Register of Deeds Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Georgetown County Clerk of Court 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: (843) 545-3004 Georgetown County Clerk of Court Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Georgetown County Assessor's Office 129 Screven Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: (843) 545-3014 Georgetown County Assessor's Office Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Georgetown County Sheriff's Office 1610 Hawkins Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: (843) 546-5102 Georgetown County Sheriff's Office Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Georgetown County Voter Registration and Elections Office 716 Prince Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: (843) 545-3339 Georgetown County Voter Registration and Elections Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.