South Carolina Public Records

To begin, add a public record or view a list of counties, locations and resources for South Carolina public records.

South Carolina public records are governed by that state's Freedom of Information Act [S.C. Code Of Laws, Title 30, Chapter 4]. According to this legislation, a public record in South Carolina "includes 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."

Further, any individual is within their rights to view and / or copy any South Carolina public record of any public body, with the exceptions being listed in Section 30-4-40 of the law. What the law deems as 'reasonable rules' must be employed with regard to time and place of access to the public for these records.

Copies of public records in South Carolina are available for the cost of duplication and any refusal by a public office to allow an individual access to public records may be punishable by law.

To lookup South Carolina public records information, contact:

The Department of Archives and History is the unit that is currently the most useful when trying to make a South Carolina public records search. This is because it is the location of the largest number of publically available documents and information regarding government interactions with private citizens. While respecting the individual's right to privacy, it also offers reasonable information to those who require it.

South Carolina County Public Records