Dorchester County, South Carolina

Tax Lien174,663 residents

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Lien

Redemption periodstate default

1 year from sale (12 months)

Investor returnstate default

3–12% per annum depending on when redeemed, tiered quarterly

Governing statutestate default

South Carolina Code Title 12, Ch. 51

Notes

South Carolina redeemable tax-deed county. Dorchester County Delinquent Tax Office runs the annual Delinquent Tax Sale Monday, October 19, 2026, at Lovely Hill Convention Center, 5905 W Jim Bilton Blvd, St. George. Last day to pay to avoid sale: Friday, October 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Historical practice: pre-registration required (opens ~1 week prior; no day-of registration); newspaper ads three weeks out; updated unpaid list and locator map online. One-year redemption from sale date. Forfeited Land Commission later sells unsold inventory. Sold AS IS.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person

Frequency

Annually mid/late October (Oct 19, 2026); FLC bid sale for unsolds separately

Platform

Dorchester County Delinquent Tax — Annual Tax Sale ↗

Deposit rules

Pre-register online or at 201 Johnston Street, St. George (no day-of registration historically). Full bid typically due in certified funds day of sale under SC practice — confirm 2026 packet (843-563-0110). Defaulting bidders face SC Code §12-51-70 penalties. Redemption within one year by paying taxes, levies, penalties, and interest. Delinquent tax lookup: dorchestercountyscdelinquenttax.billtrax.com.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

SC tax sale subject to one-year redemption. Federal tax liens and some governmental interests can survive. Verify Title 12 Chapter 51 notice quality; run full title and HOA/municipal lien search before bidding.

Quiet title

After redemption expires and tax deed issues, quiet title is commonly required for insurable marketable title.

Deal maths for South Carolina

Assessment ratio: 0.06× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $250

S.C. Code § 12-43-220(e): all other real property not otherwise provided for is assessed at six percent of fair market value. South Carolina assesses by property class rather than by county — 4% legal residence (c), 4% agricultural held by individuals (d)(1)(A), 6% agricultural held by corporations (d)(1)(B), 10.5% manufacturing and utility (a)(1).

Offices and records

Tax collector

Dorchester County Delinquent Tax Office ↗

Clerk of court

Dorchester County Clerk of Court / Register of Deeds ↗

Property appraiser

Dorchester County Assessor / Auditor ↗

GIS / parcel map

Dorchester County Delinquent Property Locator Map ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

Summerville / Nexton corridor

Charleston north-metro boomtown growth with large master-planned inventory and job access

North Charleston edge / I-26

Logistics and port-adjacent employment supporting workforce housing demand

St. George / I-95 rural edge

Relative value and county-seat services with slower but steady rural SF demand