Except for property matters for those agencies and processes specifically exempt from the oversight delegated by the South Carolina Code of Regulations, Real Property Services, on behalf of Admin and the Division of Facilities Management and Property Services (DFMPS):
- Provides centralized real estate services.
- Maintains and processes all leases either for or from a state agency.
- Process requests for easements over and across state-owned property, including marshlands and navigable waterways.
- Maintains a real estate inventory.
- Coordinates conveyances of surplus real estate.
- Processes annexations of state-owned property into municipalities.
The oversight delegated to DFMPS regarding real estate matters is required by S.C. Code of Laws and Regulations and the S.C. General Appropriation Bill.
2024 SFAA & JBRC Meeting and Submission Schedule
For Real Estate general information, please call 803-737-8731 or email RPS@admin.sc.gov.
For Sale By Department of Administration and Other Agencies
Property For Sale Listed By Admin and Other Agencies
For Sale By Private Sector Broker
Property For Sale Listed with Private Sector Broker
The following Real Property Services statutes apply to Real Property inventory:
- 2012 S.C. Act No. 288, Part 1B, §90.2, SC Code of Laws §1-11-70
Annexation Process Quick Reference Guide
All requests to annex a state-owned property into the city limits of any municipality are processed and reviewed by Real Property Services to present for approval to the five members of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. The city or town requesting or supporting the annexation of state property must adhere to the following:
- The municipality must waive, in perpetuity, any right to levy, collect or charge, directly or indirectly, any franchise, storm water drainage or other fee or cost upon the State for services provided to the State or its agencies or the subject property for as long as the property is owned by the State of South Carolina.
- The municipality must give public notice of the proposed annexation and hold a public hearing at which those interested are given an opportunity to express their views. The result of this meeting should be furnished by a copy of the minutes of the meeting or some other official written communication from the city/town to the South Carolina Department of Administration – Real Property Services.
- An annexation that changes voting practices or procedures for the affected area requires compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended. Most voting changes can be reviewed administratively by submitting the voting change to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Submissions are subject to a 60-day review period and the voting change will be implemented if the Attorney General affirmatively indicates no objection to the changes or if, at the expiration of 60 days, no objection to the change had been interposed by the Attorney General. Submissions under Section 5 can be mailed to the Civil Rights Division or filed electronically here. Preclearance under Section 5 must be provided to Real Property Services by the municipality before requesting the State Fiscal Accountability Authority’s approval of the annexation.
The agency/institution that owns, controls or uses the property involved must provide the following information:
- A letter requesting the proposed annexation and stating the benefits the agency expects as a result.
- A letter from the senator whose district includes the property expressing his or her view of the proposed annexation.
- A letter from the representative whose district includes the property expressing his or her view of the proposed annexation.
- A written legal description of the real property to be annexed.
- A map showing the property to be annexed and the municipality’s current city/town limits, and
- A tax map number of the property.
After the State Fiscal Accountability Authority’s approval, Real Property Services will prepare the Petition for Annexation to be executed and will forward the signed petition to the City/Town Manager.
The following Real Property Services statute applies to Annexations:
- S.C. Code of Laws §5-3-140
The South Carolina Department of Administration collaborated with multiple state agencies to compile a comprehensive list of conference and meeting spaces available in various state-owned buildings for use by state agencies.
The information contained in the spreadsheet below represents the information regarding available meeting spaces as provided by the respective agencies. Rental rates are included for some locations. However, if no rental rate information is provided, please contact that agency to determine if a rate is applied.
Easement Process Quick Reference Guide
DISCLAIMER: The South Carolina Department of Administration can ONLY coordinate easements for state-owned property. Questions about private property easements, should be handled by the land owners and/or a real estate attorney.
Any easements requested across, over, under or through state-owned property, including marshlands, require the approval of the South Carolina Department of Administration (Admin) and approval of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA) in accordance with the 2022 SFAA Easement Policy (Policy).
If an applicant is seeking a state easement in connection with a permit application, the request for approval of the state easement is the final step in the permitting process. All other required permits must be obtained prior to requesting Admin and SFAA approval. Since applicants may be subject to multiple permit requirements, early contact with South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) should be incorporated into the planning stage of the project so as to allow for adequate time to seek appropriate permits and approvals prior to submitting the state easement application.
To begin the process of requesting an easement, applicants must submit a completed easement application electronically to Real Property Services at RPS@admin.sc.gov. This application must be accompanied by:
- Electronic drawings showing the location and dimensions of the easement and bearing the date, name, signature, RLS number and seal of the surveyor.
- Copies of easements or other documents (i.e., encroachments permit) authorizing the use of adjacent lands.
- A copy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or the SCDES construction permit or correspondence granting construction approval.
- As set forth in item 6 of the Policy, written justification explaining what alternatives to an easement were considered (e.g., lease or license) and why those alternatives were determined insufficient.
- Written explanation that justifies the proposed duration of the easement. The duration of easements will be limited to no more than fifty years absent exceptional and compelling circumstances.
In addition to the electronic application and documents referenced above, applicant must deliver or mail the following to: Real Property Services, 1200 Senate Street, Sixth Floor, Columbia, SC 29201:
- Two original drawings showing the location and dimensions of the easement and bearing the date, name, signature, RLS number and seal of the surveyor.
- Six 24”x36” drawings showing the location and dimensions of the easement and bearing the date, name, signature, RLS number and seal of the surveyor.
Real Property Services will confirm with agency controlling impacted real property that they do not object to easement request and review and assess all easement requests. After applicant and Admin have come to an agreement regarding the easement terms, applicant must, if required, obtain an easement appraisal in accordance with the Policy.
Upon receipt of a complete easement application, including required appraisals, drawings and mutual agreement of easement terms, Admin will present easement requests to SFAA for final approval at its next regularly scheduled meeting for which the deadline for the submission of easement items has not passed.
Upon receipt of all required approvals and the Administrative Fee and the Easement Value, as defined in the Policy to Admin, unless otherwise exempt, easements will be granted in accordance with the Policy. Effective July 1, 2024, the current Administrative Fee is $744.79.
The following Real Property Services statues apply to Easements:
Real Property Services, on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Administration (Admin), is directed to identify all state-owned properties, whether titled in the name of the state or an agency or department, and all agencies and departments of state governments are, upon request, to provide to Real Property Services all documents related to the title acquisition of the real properties that are occupied or used by the agency or titled in the name of the agency.
Accordingly, Real Property Services maintains an inventory of all state properties. The information contained in the inventory report is provided by the agencies and institutions that control and/or operate the properties as required by S.C. Code of Laws §1-11-58.
NOTE: The listings contained in the Annual Building and Real Property Inventory Report, which include separate building and land reports, reflect the most accurate information available during the compilation process. Property records were obtained through State data and county assessors.
Building Report (Excel Sheet)
Land Report (Excel Sheet)
Commercial Lease Process Quick Reference Guide
Lease Out Process Quick Reference Guide
Commercial Exempt Lease Process Quick Reference Guide
Agency to Agency Lease Process Quick Reference Guide
Real Property Services acts on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Administration (Admin) as the single central broker for the leasing of real estate for state governmental bodies. Whenever a state agency wishes to lease property, Real Property Services conducts a search for available properties (usually through a solicitation process) and negotiates a lease.
This staff also markets state-owned properties and space maintained by Admin available for lease to other governmental bodies. Real Property Services also assists in leasing out state-owned real property not maintained by Admin to other governmental bodies and private entities. These actions are referred to as lease-outs.
Also, all state agencies are required to report annually to Real Property Services all leases exempt from Admin oversight, and Real Property Services also maintains an inventory of all such exempt leases.
The following Real Property Services statutes and regulations apply to leases:
- S.C. Code of Laws §1-11-55, §1-11-56, §1-11-67
- S.C. Code of Regulations §19-447.1000 (Current through State Register Volume 41, Issue 8, effective June 22, 2018)
Commercial Lease Report
Commercial Exempt Lease Report
Commercial Exempt Lease Report
RPS Leasing Workshop
Forms
Real Estate Agent or Property Owner Acknowledgement Form
Commercial Real Estate Lease (with operating cost escalation)
Commercial Real Estate Lease (without operating cost escalation)
Surplus Real Property Disposal Process Quick Reference Guide
Conveyances of surplus real property are subject to the South Carolina Department of Administration (Admin) approval. Unless specifically otherwise exempted, the following procedures are followed in the disposal of surplus real property:
- A state agency may declare real property as surplus by sending written notice to Real Property Services at RPS@admin.sc.gov or Real Property Services 1200 Senate Street, 6th Floor, Columbia SC 29201, identifying the property and providing information regarding the prior use of the property and the completion of the Real Property Transaction Submission and Approval Form. Once the real property has been deemed surplus by the agency and such declaration has been approved by Admin and/or the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, as appropriate, and prior to any disposal efforts being made, the agency shall contact Real Property Services to determine the method disposal.
- Real Property Services maintains a central listing of surplus real property for reference in reviewing subsequent property acquisition needs of state agencies.
- If an agency’s need for additional real property can be met with state-owned property, Real Property Services, on behalf of the Division of Facilities Management and Property Services, shall act as broker in transferring or assigning the property to the requesting agency.
- Admin may authorize the Division of Facilities Management and Property Services to sell a surplus real property. Real Property Services has discretion to determine the method of disposal to be used. Possible methods include: sealed bid process; listing the property with a private broker; listing the property for auction with a private auctioneer; or any other method determined by Real Property Services to be commercially reasonable considering the type and location of property involved.
- Prior to the disposal of real property, Real Property Services may place notices in several publications and venues including state and local newspapers, the South Carolina Business Opportunities Newsletter (SCBO) and this Real Property Services website.
- Prior to the disposal of real property, an appraisal of the property by a state certified appraiser, preferably MAI, must be approved by Real Property Services. Unless approved in advance by Real Property Services, the appraisal must not contain any hypothetical conditions or extraordinary assumptions.
- Except in extraordinary circumstances, real property will not be sold for less than its appraised value.