Fort Jackson

Housing Services Office
451 Stuart St.
Fort Jackson, SC 29207

Phone 803-751-7566/5788
Phone (DSN) 312-734-7566/5788
Fax 803-751-7100
Fax (DSN) 312-734-7100

Mon – Fri 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sat, Sun and Holidays – closed

BOOK YOUR LOCAL HOTELS HERE Fort Jackson on-post temporary lodging is in Jack's Inn, Weston Lake Cabins, Dozier Hall Palmetto, Magruder Transient Area, and Fort Jackson Inn. There is one hotel just outside the main gate and another near I-77, Exit 10. Other hotels and motels are about 5 miles south of the main gate near I-77, Exit 9, Garners Ferry Road.

Ask your Command or local housing office to learn more about PCSing.com that is currently available for most military installations. This site allows military members and families to:

• Search listings and pictures of available rentals near military installations
• Articles to understand all the ins and out of PCSing to a new location
• Find out about shared rentals
• List and advertise their own properties for rent or to other military families PCSing
• List their homes For Sale By Owner (FSBO) to other military members PCSing
• How to Contact the military installation housing office they are PCSing to.
• For Local Certified Military Relocator agents to help in your PCSing needs

Government Housing

The Housing Services Office (HSO) located at 4514 Stuart Ave, is your housing community advocate and should be your first point of contact for housing, regardless of where you decide to live. You can benefit from the services that the HSO provides by calling (803) 751-7566/5788 or visiting at 4514 Stuart Ave.

As of August 1, 2008, Balfour Beatty Communities took over operations of Family Housing from the Army; therefore, family housing on post is privatized. Currently there are 412 available homes which are 2, 3 & 4 bedrooms. Future plans call for demolishing 903 homes, then rebuilding 591 new homes and renovating 259 homes. The plan will take 5 years to complete and at that time the on-post housing will be as nice, if not better, than off-post housing.

When a Soldier arrives, they report to the Strom Thurman Building, Room 200 for in processing. One of the in-processing stops is the Housing Office, located at 4514 Stuart Ave., and if they elect to live on-post, a Balfour Beatty Communities representative is there to start the application process.

Current Balfour Beatty Pet Policies restrict the following breeds: Akita, Chow, Doberman, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terriers, English Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Wolf Hybrids or any other breeds with dominant traits geared toward aggression.

The average wait time depends on the size of home needed. Soldiers can move in immediately or at the most 1 week.

Number of units available by rank; there are 879 units available.

The eligibility date is the final out date of the previous duty station. In the case of unaccompanied tour, the eligibility date is the final out date of the duty station prior to the unaccompanied tour, up to 14 months.

Single Service Member Housing

All Service members must be single, with no dependents. Requests for an Exception to Policies may be submitted by the Soldier.  

E1 - E5 are assigned a separate sleeping room with a shared kitchen/bath. Soldiers are responsible for maintaining their private room and the common areas. Soldiers must be respectful and considerate of others.

Single Soldier's E6 and above are authorized to reside off-post. Apartments, town homes, and houses are available for rent. In some cases, Soldiers may decide to purchase. E5's and below are required to reside in the barracks.

Most off-post rental housing is unfurnished. However, we may assist you with locating a furnished place if necessary.

Exceptional Family Member Housing

There is a limited number of handicap accessible homes on the Installation. Families with special needs should contact the Balfour Beatty Community Management office as soon as possible to discuss their housing needs. They may be reached at 803-738-8275. We will make every attempt to accommodate the special needs member based on the recommendation of their physician. Click on the family housing website to view current photos.

All Family housing units are equipped with central heating and air conditioning. A list of special needs families is provided to maintenance for emergency assistance as needed.

Non-government Housing

The Columbia Metro area has a large number of suitable and affordable housing. There is adequate and suitable housing to meet the demands of the personnel relocating to this area. Due to the many areas close to the installation, comparable prices are available for all housing/rank categories.

Off-Post Expenses vs On-Post Expenses:

 Housing Referral Office (HRO) --The HRO is your contact for any problems you may encounter such as discrimination complaints, tenant/landlord disputes, or any questions or problems about off-post housing is the HRO. The HRO will provide you a list of rentals with corresponding locator maps and give you information regarding the communities in which the rentals are located. All renters should carry renters insurance against fire, theft and other damages. The property owner's insurance will cover the property but not the renters personal property.

Rental Options

The HRO provides a listing of houses which are for rent which our customers can view and select from.

Purchase Options

You can also contact a local Certified Military Relocator Agent who could also assist you in all you off base housing needs.

The availability of affordability housing in this area is good and many VA programs are also in place. We provide counseling, and assistance in obtaining mortgage brokers, and VA assistance in the local area.  Soldiers are guided in accordance with Housing regulations on the polices and procedures of purchasing or renting a adequate, suitable, and affordable housing within the local area.

Mobile Homes

There are no mobile home parks located on the installation.

Places to Live in Columbia

Columbia

Living in downtown Columbia has never been so attractive. Blending the historic and the new, the growth of city living is becoming more exciting each year. Renovations of Victorian and four-square homes are prevalent in the neighborhoods of Earlewood, Elmwood Park, and Cottontown. The beautiful, tree-lined streets of these neighborhoods contain homes with features such as large rooms, unique staircases, stained glass and detailed architecture. Many of the houses located in this area of Columbia can be found on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Eau Claire is made of up 32 eclectic neighborhoods in the northernmost part of the City of Columbia and offers classic homes built at the "end of the trolley line. "including 1920s and 1930s cozy bungalows, postwar brick capes, and late century ranch homes nestled in the hills and valleys of the area. Eau Claire is home to four institutions of higher learning-The Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary; Columbia College, one of the Top Ten Liberal Arts Colleges of the South; South University; and Columbia International University, a Christian institution located on the Broad River. Once part of the old town of Eau Claire, Earlewood was annexed into the City of Columbia back in the 1920s and now boasts four-square, brick, and craftsman bungalow houses, as well as the new Laurel Hill development of bungalow style homes reminiscent of the1930s. It is the home of a house older than the City itself-a frontier log cabin built in 1754 (and now moved to Sesquicentennial Park in northeast Columbia for preservation purposes).

Governor's Hill, another neighborhood located in downtown Columbia, overlooks South Carolina 's Governor's Mansion and Finlay Park. These newly built homes are three-story Charleston-style houses built within private, walled gardens. This neighborhood provides residents with new construction, old-world charm and convenience to downtown amenities. And the City is now home to many newly renovated apartments and condominiums overlooking the Main Street and surrounding areas of downtown from their perches over established retail stores and restaurants. 

Neighborhoods such as Shandon, Melrose Heights, and Heathwood surround the Five Points commercial center, the epicenter of Columbia nightlife and shop-ping. These neighborhoods offer residents the mixture of fine schools and beautiful homes combined with access to fine dining, live music, coffee shops and shopping. 

And don't forget the charming Rosewood community near the University of South Carolina. All of these downtown neighborhoods are within a five-to-ten-minute commute of the central business district, the University of South Carolina, most state government buildings, the lively and growing theater district and the Congaree River. For recreation, work, shopping, and all the benefits of modern urban life, Columbia's downtown neighborhoods are a unique treasure.

Northeast Columbia

Award winning schools, golf courses, country clubs and farms are just a few of the features offered to the residents of Northeast Columbia. These neighborhoods located off of major arteries I-20 and I-77 are some of the finest residential neighborhoods in the region. Local and national developers and builders have built their reputations from projects completed in this area of town. Subdivisions such as Spring Valley, WildeWood, Woodcreek Farms, and Longcreek offer upscale, new home construction. 

With a superior school system and a variety of shopping and dining facilities, both families and businesses populate this part of the region. The newly renovated Columbia Place mall and The Village at Sandhill, as well as numerous smaller shopping centers serve Northeast Columbia. 

Marvelously maintained golf courses do the area as well as a variety of other activities for families. Sesquicentennial State Park, full of beautiful walking trails, is located in the center of this rapidly growing area. 

Southeast Columbia

The East and Southeast areas are centrally located off of I-77 near the Fort Jackson Military Base. Most of the homes in this area are well established and maintained; however, new construction is still available. The area southeast of Columbia offers adverse mixture of shopping centers and excellent restaurants as well as country living. Beautiful horse farms dot the countryside. Employment opportunities abound due to the numerous profitable industries in this area. The Veteran's Administration Hospital is located here as well. Several neighborhoods commonly referred to as the Hamptons have been developed in this area.  

Residents benefit from the convenience of city while avoiding the bustle of downtown living. The area, including the city of Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes, is located east of Columbia. This part of Columbia is known for its large, established homes, private lakes and unique shopping and dining facilities. These neighborhoods provide all that is best of suburban living. All the neighborhoods of Forest Lakes/Arcadia Lakes are convenient to major shopping malls, grocery stores, movie theaters and Columbia's interstate highway network.

This location gives easy access to all the major employment centers in the city. Whether you work downtown, at the University, on the I-77 high-tech corridor or at Fort Jackson, the neighborhoods of Forest Lakes/Arcadia Lakes put you there quickly.

Northwest Columbia

Northwest Columbia is without a doubt one of the fastest growing residential parts of the area. Housing choices are plentiful and prices range from moderate to upper end. The primary areas in the Northwest are St. Andrews, Harbison and Irmo. Harbison Boulevard features a spectacular regional mall, Columbiana Center, as well as numerous other shops and restaurants. Dutch Square Mall, one of the region's first enclosed malls, is also located in St. Andrews. 

For hikers and bikers, the trails in Harbison State Forest offer miles of scenic beauty in a totally natural environment. Irmo,a town which borders the north side of Lake Murray, has the highest population of any municipality in Lexington County. Irmo also boasts award-winning Richland/Lexington District 5 schools and offers plenty of family amenities. 

Home communities offer a wide variety of styles and amenities. Harbison and Quail Valley, both established neighborhoods, are perfect matches for families whose interests include tennis, basketball, racquetball, swimming and more. Upper-scale communities include Wexford on the Lake, offering spectacular Lake Murray views and community dock and boat ramp.

City of Lexington

For those wanting the great feeling of a small town with all the amenities of a large city, Lexington is the place. Lexington not only boasts one of the fastest growing school districts in the state, Lexington District One, but also has a wonderful menu of housing from which to choose. From a city feel to lake living, Lexington can offer it all and is located only 10 miles west from downtown Columbia. Although the Town of Lexington is relatively small (11,000 residents), it is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the nation and the fastest growing town in South Carolina. It is the political center of Lexington County. 

One of the most attractive features of Lexington is Lake Murray. This lake is 41 miles long and 14 miles at its widest point and touches four counties Richland, Lexington, Saluda and Newberry. Accessibility is easy with exits off I-20 in Lexington and I-26 at Irmo and Chapin. It is no wonder that year round lake living has become very popular, and, as a result, many upscale neighborhoods have developed in recent years. 

The true beauty of Lake Murray is evidenced by the peaceful and natural countryside. Well-maintained farms, with original farmhouses and out buildings spread over the rolling hills, are tastefully mingled with new home communities.