New Resident How To's
Welcome to the Island and, for some, to South Carolina!
Below you will find some helpful information and website links on getting settled.
Voting
Kiawah Island is in the following voting districts:
- Local: Kiawah Island 1
- SC House: 119
- SC Senate: 44
- US Congressional: 1
All elections are held at the St. John's Fire Station on Kiawah Island located on the Kiawah Island Parkway (before V-Gate). Turn onto Sora Rail Road then left into the parking lot behind the station. Directional signs will be posted.
Register to Vote
Charleston County Voter Registration - 843-744-8683
Absentee Ballots - 843-744-8683
Download Voter Registration Form.
Mail to:
Charleston County Board of Voter Registration
4367 Headquarters Road
Post Office Box 71419 (29415)
Charleston, SC 29405-7402
South Carolina Election Commission
Vehicle Registration and SC Driver's License
The SC Department of Motor Vehicles handles vehicle registration and driver's license registrations. Vehicle registrations are generally renewed at the time property taxes are paid to Charleston County. You may pay your Charleston County taxes online. The SCDMV offers many services on-line.
Charleston County Public Library
The Charleston County Public Library is a wonderful resource for books, magazines, CDs, videos, DVDs, and Internet access. Library cards are FREE to all residents and business and property owners in Charleston County. The closest library to Kiawah Island is the Johns Island Regional, 3531 Maybank Highway, Charleston, SC, 29455. Phone: 843-559-1945.
The Bookmobile also visits Kiawah Island during the first and third week of each month on Thursday from 2:30 to 4PM at Night Heron Park.
Establish Mail Service
Mail Service can be established at the local United States Post Office. The Johns Island post office is located on Maybank Highway, next to the Auto/Supply/True Value Hardware. There is a Post office drop box, street-side of East Beach Conference Center. A Federal Express drop box is located in Great Beach Center (Resort Quest) on Beachwalker Road. Island Express (formally Sidi's) sells stamps and handles Federal Express Shipments. EmailShip Imaging & more, 843-266-2212,(located at Freshfields, across from the Design Center, next to Baker Motors) provides Federal Express, UPS, USPS Shipping, packing services, PO Box Rentals, copying, Wi-Fi and much more.
Taxes
South Carolina has no State Property Tax. Real estate and Personal property taxes (i.e. car, boat) are levied by Charleston County. Owner-occupied real estate is assessed at 4% while non owner-occupied real estate is assessed at 6%. For information on Charleston County property taxes, contact the Charleston County Assessor's Office at 843-958-4100 or visit their website, Assessor's office.
Establish/Change Garbage Service
The Town of Kiawah Island provides a comprehensive solid waste program for island property owners who own single family homes. Collection for villas and condo is handled directly by the homeowners associations.
Recycling, yard debris service, brown trash pick-up four times per year, and household hazardous waste dropoff collections twice per year are included in the cost of curbside, backdoor and Saturday service. Single family regime homes do not receive recyling or yard debris service.
All services include one garbage container and recycling bin. Additional containers can be obtained from Suburban Disposal for a charge of $75 and one additional recycling bin can be obtained free of charge from the Town (depending on availability).
Bills are mailed by August for the service year of July 1 to June 30. If you wish to change the type of service you receive, you may call Town Hall during the month of April to request a change which will be effective July 1. Exceptions to this rule can be made on a case by case basis.
Contact Kathy McLerren to set-up service.
Water/Sewer
Water and sewer services are provided by Kiawah Island Utility. To set up service please call, 843-768-0641.
Cable and/or Satellite Service
Comcast Cable Company provides Cable service for Kiawah Island. Currently, there are two companies that provide satellite service for Kiawah Residents. These companies are Dish Network and Direct TV.
Comcast Cable Company Website
Local Number for Set-up: 843-559-2424
Local number for problems: 843-554-4100
Dish Network Website
Phone Number: 1-888-825-2557
Direct TV Website
Phone Number: 1-888-777-2454
Other Great Resources
KICA New Member Welcome Guide