The fee ledger · Kiawah Island
Every fee to buy and own on Kiawah Island
Last verified
Photo by Johannes Beilharz on Unsplash
On Kiawah Island the buyer owes KICA’s Contribution to Reserves: 0.5% of the price, never less than the current annual assessment ($3,158 if all three 2026 charges count), plus a $100 sale administration fee. KICA’s covenants make the purchaser liable for it.
A home then pays KICA $3,158 a year (2026) and county property tax at 246.1 mills; the Town levies none. Kiawah Island Club membership isn’t required island-wide, and villa regime fees vary by regime.
27 lines, each with its source and the date we checked it. Every fee here names its source and the date we last checked it. Associations change fees; confirm with the association and your closing attorney before you close.
- Confirmed
- Read in the issuer's own document or page.
- Secondary
- Seen only in agent pages, listings or MLS remarks — not yet in the issuer's own words.
- Conflicting
- Sources disagree, or the issuer's wording leaves a gap. The note says what.
- Not published
- The issuer publishes no number. Ask for it in writing before you close.
At closing — the buyer's side
| Fee | Amount | Who pays · when | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICAContribution to Reserves (the "transfer fee") The rate is confirmed. The minimum is "the current Annual Assessment" — $3,158 if all three 2026 charges count, $2,562 if only the general one does. Being confirmed with KICA. | 0.5% of the gross purchase price (minimum $3,158) 0.5% of the price, never less than the current annual assessment — so the floor applies below about $631,600 Rate in effect since June 1, 2000 | Buyer — the covenants make the purchaser liable, whatever the contract says between buyer and sellerAt closing | Conflicting KICA Covenants, as amended March 2025“Payment of the Contribution To Reserves Fee shall be the liability of the purchaser”Also: KICA, Finance: Assessments & FeesChecked October 13, 2026 |
| KICAProperty Sale Administration Fee | $100 one time Current | Not stated by KICAAt closing | Confirmed KICA, Finance: Assessments & Fees“A $100 fee is charged to cover administrative expenses related to ownership transfers.”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| KICARecreation Center Initiation Fee | Not published Due at closing on a property's first assessed sale (new homes and first sales from the developer) Current | Not statedAt closing | Not published KICA, Finance: Assessments & Fees“Due at closing for Type A properties not previously assessed”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Kiawah Island UtilityWater and sewer account — new account | $25 one time Tariff 3-26-26 | New customerWhen service starts | Confirmed Kiawah Island Utility tariff (3-26-26), SC PSC Docket 2025-243-WS“A one-time fee of $25.00 will be charged to each new account”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Kiawah Island ClubKiawah Island Club membershipOptional | Not required island-wide; the Club doesn't publish its fees Available only with select properties. Agent pages report initiation at $185,000 golf, $160,000 sports and $120,000 social, and say it is mandatory in Cassique and The Settlement — none of that is from the Club. — | Buyer of a qualifying propertyAt closing | Secondary Kiawah Island Real Estate, Understanding memberships“Available through the purchase of select qualifying properties”Also: Pam Harrington Exclusives, Kiawah Island Club membership (an agent's page)Checked October 13, 2026 |
| State of South CarolinaDeed recording fee ("deed stamps") | $1.85 per $500 of value $1.85 per $500 of value ($3.70 per $1,000): $1.30 state + $0.55 county Current law | Seller by statute (the buyer is secondarily liable; a contract can shift it)At recording | Confirmed SC Code §12-24 (deed recording fee)“one dollar eighty-five cents for each five hundred dollars, or fractional part”Also: SC Department of Revenue, Deed Recording FeeChecked October 13, 2026 |
| Charleston County Register of DeedsRecording charge — deed and mortgage | $15 one time $15 per deed; $25 per mortgage Current law | Whoever records (the buyer, through the closing attorney)At recording | Confirmed SC Code §8-21-310 (Register of Deeds fees)“fifteen dollars for a deed to real estate”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Charleston County Register of DeedsRecording charge — mortgage | $25 one time Current law | The borrower, through the closing attorneyAt recording | Confirmed SC Code §8-21-310 (Register of Deeds fees)Checked October 13, 2026 |
Every year you own
| Fee | Amount | Who pays · when | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICAAnnual assessment — home or villa | $3,158 a year $2,562 general + $357 reserve + $239 amenity (Sandcastle) 2026 (it was $3,057 in 2025) | OwnerBilled in early January, due in February | Confirmed KICA 2026 Assessment Rates SheetAlso: KICA, Board approves 2026 assessment ratesChecked October 13, 2026 |
| KICAAnnual assessment — lot | $1,579 a year 2026 | OwnerBilled in early January, due in February | Confirmed KICA 2026 Assessment Rates SheetChecked October 13, 2026 |
| KICAV-Gate (Vanderhorst) segment assessment Ocean Park and The Preserve segment assessments dropped to $0 for 2026. | $103 a year +$103 a year on a home, +$51.50 on a lot, behind the V-Gate 2026 | Owners behind the V-GateYearly | Confirmed KICA 2026 Assessment Rates SheetChecked October 13, 2026 |
| KICAJoint Member Administrative Fee | $275 a year 2026 | Each additional owner household on one propertyYearly | Confirmed KICA 2026 Assessment Rates SheetChecked October 13, 2026 |
| Villa regimesRegime (villa association) fees Your contract's regime disclosures and the regime manager have the real number. | Vary by regime; not published by KICA — | Owners in 31+ regimesMonthly or yearly | Not published KICA, Finance: Assessments & Fees“31+ regimes may incur additional monthly or annual fees”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Kiawah Island UtilityWater base charge (5/8" meter) | $34.10 a month $34.10 a month, plus $6.85 per 1,000 gallons up to 11,000 Bills after April 1, 2026 | Account holderMonthly | Confirmed Kiawah Island Utility tariff (3-26-26), SC PSC Docket 2025-243-WSChecked October 13, 2026 |
| Kiawah Island UtilitySewer base charge (5/8" meter) | $28.62 a month $28.62 a month, plus $1.61 per 1,000 gallons of water used Bills after April 1, 2026 | Account holderMonthly | Confirmed Kiawah Island Utility tariff (3-26-26), SC PSC Docket 2025-243-WSChecked October 13, 2026 |
| Town of Kiawah IslandTown property tax | None — the Town does not levy property tax Current | —— | Confirmed Town of Kiawah Island, Budget“The Town does not collect property taxes”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Town of Kiawah IslandGarbage service | $0 curbside, up to $757 a year Curbside $0 · back door once a week $349 · twice a week $469 · rental back door twice a week $757 2026 | OwnerYearly | Confirmed Town of Kiawah Island, 2026 trash ratesChecked October 13, 2026 |
| Charleston CountyProperty tax levy — St. John's Fire District | 246.1 mills 216.1 countywide mills + 30.0 St. John's Fire District. Covers Seabrook (TD 53), Kiawah (TD 54), and Johns Island and Wadmalaw outside any town (TD 51 — "T.D. 5-1" on the county map). 2025 levy — the 2026 card isn't posted yet | OwnerYearly tax bill | Confirmed Charleston County Auditor, 2025 Millage Levy breakdown“St John's Fire District(TD 51,53,54,55)”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Charleston CountySolid Waste Recycling and Disposal Fee The amount is from the county's own sample bill. Check the parcel's last bill for the exact line. | $150 a year 2025 levy | OwnerOn the yearly tax bill | Confirmed Charleston County Auditor, 2025 Millage Card“SOLID WASTE RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL FEE +150.00”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| State of South CarolinaAssessment ratio — legal residence Lost if the home is rented more than 72 days in a calendar year. | 4% of market value Current law | Owner — you must applyApply before the first penalty date | Confirmed SC Code §12-43-220 (assessment ratios)“taxed on an assessment equal to four percent of the fair market value”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| State of South CarolinaAssessment ratio — second home, rental or lot | 6% of market value Current law | OwnerYearly | Confirmed SC Code §12-43-220 (assessment ratios)“shall be taxed on an assessment equal to six percent of the fair market value”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| State of South CarolinaSchool operating tax relief — legal residence only | 142.5 mills A legal residence doesn't pay the 142.5 school-operating mills 2025 levy | Credit to the ownerOn the yearly bill | Confirmed Charleston County Auditor, 2025 Millage Card“HOMEOWNERS RECEIVE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ON SCHOOL BOARD OPERATING TAX FOR THEIR LEGAL RESIDENCE”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Charleston CountyCounty tax credit The county's sample applies it to an owner-occupied home. Whether a second home gets it isn't stated — the calculator applies it to a legal residence only. | 0.00082 × appraised value 2025 levy | Credit to the ownerOn the yearly bill | Conflicting Charleston County Auditor, 2025 Millage CardChecked October 13, 2026 |
If you rent it out
| Fee | Amount | Who pays · when | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Kiawah IslandShort-term rental license Licenses in capped areas are first come, first served. The Town issues them — not KICA. | $500 a year Application $500 (R-1 and capped R-2 streets) or $200 (other zones), plus a rental license tax: $75 on the first $2,000 of rent, then $3.05 per $1,000 2026 | HostLicense year May 1 – April 30 | Confirmed Town of Kiawah Island, Rental License Rates (eff. 2/1/2026)Also: Town of Kiawah Island, Rental License Application FeesChecked October 13, 2026 |
| State, county and TownTaxes on short-term rent | 13% of rent collected 2026 | Collected from guests, remitted by the host or managerEach stay | Confirmed Town of Kiawah Island, accommodations tax packetChecked October 13, 2026 |
If you build or renovate
| Fee | Amount | Who pays · when | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| KICAProperty Status Change Fee (lot becomes a home) An older summary said half the general assessment. KICA's live page reads as above. | The current year's general assessment, prorated by quarter Current | OwnerAt certificate of occupancy | Conflicting KICA, Finance: Assessments & Fees“fee of the current year's general assessment, prorated by quarter”Checked October 13, 2026 |
| Kiawah Island UtilityResidential tap-in fees | $1,000 one time $500 water + $500 sewer for a standard residential meter Tariff 3-26-26 | Owner buildingAt connection | Confirmed Kiawah Island Utility tariff (3-26-26), SC PSC Docket 2025-243-WSChecked October 13, 2026 |
Still open with the issuer
Being confirmed with the issuer. Until an answer comes back, the line above says what’s known and what isn’t.
- KICA: Is the Contribution to Reserves minimum the general assessment or all three charges? What is the Recreation Center Initiation Fee?
Spot something out of date? Email mike@mikeolsonre.com and it gets checked and fixed, with the date. The ledger is also a download.
Photo: olekinderhook, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)
Two ways in
Talk it through with Mike, or ask Val — the guide’s AI assistant, answering from this site’s sourced facts.