Are there rental limits in Charleston?

Occupancy is limited to 2 adults per bedroom; children under 12 are counted separately (up to 2 per room).

What are the key requirements for Charleston hosts?

A local manager must be designated and available to respond to issues in a timely manner.

What should Charleston hosts know about off-street parking is strictly required?

Off-street parking is strictly required (1 space per unit) in addition to the property's existing parking needs.

What zoning rules apply to STRs in Charleston?

Non-owner occupied units in residential zones require a Conditional Use Permit through the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Charleston

Moderate

IllinoisUpdated Apr 1, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Charleston are governed by a 2025 ordinance requiring a zoning use permit and adherence to specific occupancy and safety standards.

Restriction level

Severity 8

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb or similar rental in Charleston, you must obtain a permit from the Building and Development Services department and follow strict occupancy limits (2 adults per bedroom). You are also required to designate a local manager and provide at least one off-street parking space for your guests.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Occupancy is limited to 2 adults per bedroom; children under 12 are counted separately (up to 2 per room).
2A local manager must be designated and available to respond to issues in a timely manner.
3Off-street parking is strictly required (1 space per unit) in addition to the property's existing parking needs.
4Non-owner occupied units in residential zones require a Conditional Use Permit through the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Charleston allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Apartment, Condo, Duplex, Cottage.
Charleston: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Charleston: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements13 rules

Charleston: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Charleston STR warning: A local manager must be designated and available to respond to issues in a timely manner.
Charleston requires liability insurance for STR hosts. General business liability insurance is typically required for commercial operations.

Application process9 rules

How to set up an STR in Charleston: To host an Airbnb or similar rental in Charleston, you must obtain a permit from the Building and Development Services department and follow strict occupancy limits (2 adults per bedroom). You are also required to designate a local manager and provide at least one off-street parking space for your guests.

Fees & costs1 rule

Charleston charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Illinois has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Charleston charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 0.05%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Operators are encouraged to file via Localgov; marketplace collection varies.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Charleston: Occupancy is limited to 2 adults per bedroom; children under 12 are counted separately (up to 2 per room).
Charleston occupancy calculation: 2 transient guests per guest room plus 2 children (12 or younger) per room. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Charleston enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Charleston limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Charleston requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Operable window or door in each bedroom, No visible electrical hazards, Visible address numbers.

Penalties3 rules

Charleston: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Charleston enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Misdemeanor fine. Second offense: Increased daily fine. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: Per day per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.

Exemptions2 rules

Charleston exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts.
Charleston: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Charleston

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning and District

Check if your property is in a Commercial (C-2, C-3) or Industrial (I-1) district where STRs are permitted by right. If in a residential zone, confirm the process for a Conditional Use Permit.

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 2

Contact Code Official for Concept Meeting

Call (217) 345-5650 to discuss your proposed rental and determine if a pre-application meeting is required.

1 weekFree

Step 3

Submit Zoning Use Permit Application

File the completed application with the Building and Development Services Department, including a site plan and floor plan identifying guest rooms.

2-4 weeks$100

Documents needed

Zoning Use Permit Form
Site Plan
Floor Plan

Official resource

Step 4

Register for Local Hotel/Motel Tax

Set up an account on Localgov to file and remit the monthly 5% City Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Business Name
Tax ID

Official resource

Step 5

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule an inspection to ensure the property meets fire and building safety codes, including smoke alarms and egress requirements.

1-2 weeksFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Charleston

Moderate

IllinoisUpdated Apr 1, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Charleston are governed by a 2025 ordinance requiring a zoning use permit and adherence to specific occupancy and safety standards.

Restriction level

Severity 8

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Occupancy is limited to 2 adults per bedroom; children under 12 are counted separately (up to 2 per room).
2A local manager must be designated and available to respond to issues in a timely manner.
3Off-street parking is strictly required (1 space per unit) in addition to the property's existing parking needs.
4Non-owner occupied units in residential zones require a Conditional Use Permit through the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Charleston allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Apartment, Condo, Duplex, Cottage.
Charleston: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Charleston: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements13 rules

Charleston: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Charleston STR warning: A local manager must be designated and available to respond to issues in a timely manner.
Charleston requires liability insurance for STR hosts. General business liability insurance is typically required for commercial operations.

Application process9 rules

How to set up an STR in Charleston: To host an Airbnb or similar rental in Charleston, you must obtain a permit from the Building and Development Services department and follow strict occupancy limits (2 adults per bedroom). You are also required to designate a local manager and provide at least one off-street parking space for your guests.

Fees & costs1 rule

Charleston charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Illinois has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Charleston charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 0.05%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Operators are encouraged to file via Localgov; marketplace collection varies.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Charleston: Occupancy is limited to 2 adults per bedroom; children under 12 are counted separately (up to 2 per room).
Charleston occupancy calculation: 2 transient guests per guest room plus 2 children (12 or younger) per room. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Charleston enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Charleston limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Charleston requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Operable window or door in each bedroom, No visible electrical hazards, Visible address numbers.

Penalties3 rules

Charleston: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Charleston enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Misdemeanor fine. Second offense: Increased daily fine. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: Per day per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.

Exemptions2 rules

Charleston exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts.
Charleston: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Charleston

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning and District

Check if your property is in a Commercial (C-2, C-3) or Industrial (I-1) district where STRs are permitted by right. If in a residential zone, confirm the process for a Conditional Use Permit.

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 2

Contact Code Official for Concept Meeting

Call (217) 345-5650 to discuss your proposed rental and determine if a pre-application meeting is required.

1 weekFree

Step 3

Submit Zoning Use Permit Application

File the completed application with the Building and Development Services Department, including a site plan and floor plan identifying guest rooms.

2-4 weeks$100

Documents needed

Zoning Use Permit Form
Site Plan
Floor Plan

Official resource

Step 4

Register for Local Hotel/Motel Tax

Set up an account on Localgov to file and remit the monthly 5% City Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Business Name
Tax ID

Official resource

Step 5

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule an inspection to ensure the property meets fire and building safety codes, including smoke alarms and egress requirements.

1-2 weeksFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning and District

Contact Code Official for Concept Meeting

Submit Zoning Use Permit Application

Register for Local Hotel/Motel Tax

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Charleston?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Charleston?

3What are the occupancy and parking rules in Charleston?

4Are there penalties for non-compliance in Charleston?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning and District

Contact Code Official for Concept Meeting

Submit Zoning Use Permit Application

Register for Local Hotel/Motel Tax

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Charleston?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Charleston?

3What are the occupancy and parking rules in Charleston?

4Are there penalties for non-compliance in Charleston?

Disclaimer