Frequently Asked Questions

What office should I contact for assistance?

Please contact the Richland County Ombudsman at 803-929-6000 or ombudsman@richlandcountysc.gov. The Ombudsman’s Office serves as the County’s “One-Call Response Center,” and its friendly staff help get answers to your questions and responses to your concerns or service requests.

Who is my County Council representative?

Visit richlandcountysc.gov, click “County Council,” then “Find your Richland County Council representative.” Enter your address to identify your representative. Or, visitrichlandmaps.comand type in your address to identify both your County and State representatives.

How do I contact my Council representative?

Each Councilmember is accessible by email or phone. Visitrichlandcountysc.gov and click “County Council” for a list of Councilmembers’ phone numbers and email addresses. Or, contact the Clerk of Council’s Office at 803-576-2060 or rccoco@richlandcountysc.gov.

How can I address all of County Council?

Richland County Council typically meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, located in the County Administration Building at 2020 Hampton St., Columbia. The public is invited to attend these meetings, where residents have the opportunity to sign up to speak to Council. Residents will have up to two minutes to address Council.

How do I pay a tax bill?

Richland County accepts many types of payments electronically. Visit richlandcountysc.gov and click “Online Payments” on the menu bar to pay bills by credit or debit card or electronic check. A fee of $1 plus 1.7 percent of the payment is collected on electronic payments. Payments may also be mailed to the address on the bill or paid in person during regular business hours at the Richland County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia.

How are my taxes spent?

Richland County makes its budget available for public viewing online. Residents can view current and past budget books to see where tax dollars come from and how they’re spent. To learn more about taxes and the budget process, visit richlandcountysc.gov.

How do I find out about voting in elections?

The Richland County Elections & Voter Registration Office is managed by the State, but Richland County Government is required by law to provide operating space for the office. Therefore, the Elections & Voter Registration Office is located within the County Administration Building at 2020 Hampton St., Columbia. Elections and voter information is available at richlandcountysc.gov or by calling 803-576-2240.

How do I get involved in County Government?

Residents interested in serving on one of Richland County’s many boards, committees and commissions may contact the Clerk of Council’s Office at 803-576-2060 or rccoco@richlandcountysc.gov for information. See page 8 for other ways to stay engaged with local government.

How do I stay informed about what’s happening in County Government?

Richland County news releases and upcoming events are available at richlandcountysc.gov, as well as information about County departments, programs and projects. County Council meetings are open to the public and can be viewed on RCTV and richlandcountysc.gov. Residents can follow Richland County on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@RichlandSC) for social media updates and can receive the County’s weekly newsletter by signing up at the bottom of richlandcountysc.gov. Residents can watch RCTV for informative videos, recordings of meetings, weather updates and more. You can also tune in to Richland County’s local television channel, RCTV, on Spectrum Channel 1302 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.