Edgefield County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Edgefield County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information related to public records through EdgefieldRecords.us, a directory resource that aggregates links and guidance for locating official records maintained by Edgefield County agencies and South Carolina state offices. The categories of records that may be found through official channels include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Tax and assessment records
- Business licenses and permits
- Voting and election records
- Law enforcement records, where permitted by law
- Environmental permits and land use documents
- County meeting minutes, agendas, and budgets
Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.
Online Access:
- The Edgefield County Public Index, maintained through the SC Eleventh Judicial Circuit, provides online access to court case records and related filings.
- The South Carolina Archives Index for Edgefield County offers access to historical county records, including Clerk of Court documents and microfilmed materials.
- Environmental permit records are searchable through the SC Department of Environmental Services ePermitting portal.
- No registration is required to search most public court indexes, though some document retrieval functions may require in-person verification.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Edgefield County Clerk of Court's Office, located at the Edgefield County Courthouse, 129 Courthouse Square, Edgefield, SC 29824. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should identify the record type and approximate date range when presenting a request at the public counter.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Edgefield County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 663, Edgefield, SC 29824. Requests should include the requestor's full name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for response. Under § 30-4-30 of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, agencies are required to respond to written requests within ten business days.
Phone/Email:
- Edgefield County Clerk of Court: (803) 637-4065
- Edgefield County Administrator's Office: (803) 637-4000
What Are Public Records in Edgefield County?
Public records in Edgefield County are defined under South Carolina law 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. The following record types are maintained by county offices:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Clerk of Court |
| Probate and estate records | Probate Court |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Register of Deeds |
| Property tax assessments | County Assessor |
| Vital records (birth, death) | SC DHEC / Probate Court |
| Marriage and divorce records | Probate Court / Clerk of Court |
| Business licenses | County Administrator |
| Environmental permits | SC Dept. of Environmental Services |
| Voting and election records | County Board of Voter Registration |
| Meeting minutes and budgets | County Administrator |
| Law enforcement records | Edgefield County Sheriff's Office |
Historical county records, including Clerk of Court distribution books and pension fund records dating to the early twentieth century, are preserved through the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Is Edgefield County an Open Records County?
Edgefield County operates in full compliance with South Carolina's open records framework. Under § 30-4-20 of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), all public bodies in the state are required to make their records available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours. The Act defines "public body" broadly to include county councils, boards, commissions, and all offices funded by public money.
As stated in the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, "it is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that citizens shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity." This principle governs all records access requests submitted to Edgefield County offices.
The county does not maintain a separate local open records ordinance; state law governs all access requests. The South Carolina Attorney General's Office provides guidance on FOIA compliance applicable to all county agencies statewide.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Edgefield County?
The current fee structure for public records in Edgefield County is governed by state law and individual office schedules. Standard fees applicable to most requests are as follows:
| Fee Type | Standard Rate |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (letter/legal size) | $0.25 per page |
| Certification of records | $1.00–$5.00 per document |
| Electronic copies (where available) | Varies by office |
| Search fees | Not permitted under state law for routine requests |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
Under § 30-4-30(b) of the South Carolina FOIA, fees charged for copies may not exceed the actual cost of making the copies. Agencies are prohibited from charging for the time spent locating records in response to a routine request. Accepted payment methods at the Edgefield County Courthouse include cash, check, and money order payable to the respective office. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to serve a significant public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.
Accident report copies requested from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety are subject to separate fee schedules; members of the public may submit those requests through the SC DPS FOIA process, which requires attachment of the completed Form TR-310.
Does Edgefield County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at Edgefield County offices during regular business hours. Members of the public are not charged a fee to view records in person at the public counter. The following resources provide free access to records without requiring a copy request:
- Edgefield County Public Index (via the SC Eleventh Judicial Circuit public record links): Free online search of court case indexes, including civil and criminal dockets.
- SC Archives Index: Free online access to historical Edgefield County records through the South Carolina Archives and History index.
- South Carolina Public Sex Offender Registry: The SC Law Enforcement Division's sex offender registry is available to the public at no charge and is updated regularly by county sheriff's offices and SLED.
- SC DES ePermitting: Environmental permit records and inspection reports are searchable at no cost through the SC Department of Environmental Services permitting system.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the standard per-page rates described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Edgefield County?
Any person may request public records from Edgefield County offices under South Carolina law. Requestors are not required to be residents of South Carolina or of Edgefield County. As affirmed by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, "any person has a right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body." Agencies are not permitted to require requestors to state the purpose of their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records.
Requestors are not required to provide identification to inspect records at a public counter, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or for requests involving personal records. Non-residents retain the same access rights as residents for all records that are not otherwise restricted by statute. Individuals requesting their own records—such as personal court filings or tax records—follow the same process as any other requestor, with no additional eligibility requirements. Requests for records involving third parties are subject to applicable exemptions protecting personal privacy.
What Records Are Confidential in Edgefield County?
Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under South Carolina law. § 30-4-40 of the South Carolina FOIA enumerates the following exemptions applicable to Edgefield County public bodies:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in family court or juvenile proceedings are confidential.
- Ongoing law enforcement investigations: Records compiled in the course of an active criminal investigation are exempt until the investigation is closed or charges are filed.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
- Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only through court order.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the SC Department of Social Services.
- Personnel records: Employee records are exempt except for name, title, compensation, and dates of employment.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to a public body in confidence.
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety.
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial office is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder of the document.
Edgefield County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Edgefield County Register of Deeds
129 Courthouse Square
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-4068
Edgefield County Register of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Edgefield County Clerk of Court
129 Courthouse Square
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-4065
Edgefield County Clerk of Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Edgefield County Probate Court
129 Courthouse Square
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-4060
Edgefield County Probate Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Edgefield County Assessor's Office
129 Courthouse Square
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-4066
Edgefield County Assessor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Edgefield County Sheriff's Office
201 Jeter Street
Edgefield, SC 29824
(803) 637-5337
Edgefield County Sheriff's Office
Office Hours:
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week; administrative records requests handled Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
Lookup Public Records in Edgefield County
- Edgefield County courthouse and circuit court public record links
- Edgefield County historical records at the SC Archives
- South Carolina public sex offender registry search
- South Carolina Department of Public Safety FOIA and accident report requests
- SC Department of Environmental Services environmental permit records