South Carolina short-term rental regulations

South Carolina · The Palmetto State25 markets coveredUpdated Apr 19, 2026

Restriction mix25 markets

Prohibited3 · 12%

Strict7 · 28%

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Prohibited

Banned or owner-occupied only

3 markets

STRs are banned outright or limited to owner-occupied stays only.

Spartanburg

South Carolina

Prohibited

Spartanburg prohibits short-term rentals in residential zones, restricting them to commercial, downtown, and mixed-use districts where they require a business...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Charleston

South Carolina

Prohibited

The City of Charleston has strict short-term rental regulations requiring hosts to obtain an annual operating permit and a business license.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2000.1% tax

Greenville

South Carolina

Prohibited

Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are prohibited in all residential zoning districts and are restricted to specific commercial and mixed-use zones within the...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Strict

Heavy restrictions apply

7 markets

Heavy regulation: caps, primary-residence rules, lottery permits, or night limits.

Mount Pleasant

South Carolina

Strict

The Town of Mount Pleasant strictly regulates short-term rentals, capping the number of rental nights at 72 per calendar year for most residential properties.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Beaufort

South Carolina

Strict

Short-term rentals in the City of Beaufort are strictly regulated under Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code, requiring both a specific STR permit and a city...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Charleston County

South CarolinaCounty

Strict

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Charleston County are restricted to an owner's primary residence and capped at 72 rental days per year for most...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Mt. Pleasant

South Carolina

Strict

Short-term rentals in Mt. Pleasant are strictly regulated under Chapter 156.400, requiring both an annual permit and a business license.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Clemson

South Carolina

Strict

Clemson permits short-term rentals for a maximum of 25 days per calendar year, requiring annual registration and a mandatory safety inspection.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Folly Beach

South Carolina

Strict

Folly Beach regulates STRs under Chapter 116, featuring a 800-license cap for non-primary residents and a strict local accommodations tax of 7% (8% total...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $7000.1% tax

Rock Hill

South Carolina

Strict

Short-term rentals in Rock Hill are restricted to specific commercial and mixed-use zones, with a five-year phase-out period for existing residential rentals...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Free permit0.1% tax

Moderate

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

14 markets

Permit + tax registration required; otherwise STRs are broadly allowed.

Kiawah Island

South Carolina

Moderate

Kiawah Island strictly regulates short-term rentals through a mandatory licensing program and neighborhood-specific rental caps.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.1% tax

Pawleys Island

South Carolina

Moderate

The Town of Pawleys Island requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual Town Business License and remit a 5% local accommodations tax.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

Beaufort County

South CarolinaCounty

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Beaufort County are regulated by Ordinance 2021/48, requiring an annual permit and a local contact available 24/7.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Surfside Beach

South Carolina

Moderate

The Town of Surfside Beach requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a business license and pay a total accommodations tax of 12%.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Isle of Palms

South Carolina

Moderate

Isle of Palms strictly regulates STRs through a licensing system that includes a cap of 1,600 non-owner occupied units.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1,2000.1% tax

Hilton Head Island

South Carolina

Moderate

Hilton Head Island requires an annual Short-Term Rental permit (effective 2023) and a separate business license for all rentals under 30 days.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Horry County

South CarolinaCounty

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Horry County are regulated under Chapter 13, Article V, requiring a one-time $50 STR Certificate.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

North Myrtle Beach

South Carolina

Moderate

North Myrtle Beach requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a city business license and register for local accommodations taxes.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Lexington

South Carolina

Moderate

The Town of Lexington requires short-term rental operators to obtain a business license and remit a 3% local accommodations tax effective January 1, 2025.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $600.1% tax

Clinton

South Carolina

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Clinton, SC are primarily regulated through the city's general business licensing and local accommodations tax requirements.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

Bluffton

South Carolina

Moderate

The Town of Bluffton requires all short-term rental operators to obtain both an annual STR permit and a town business license.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Columbia

South Carolina

Moderate

Columbia requires an annual short-term rental permit and business license, but has implemented a 365-day moratorium on new permits in residential zones as of...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $2500.1% tax

Myrtle Beach

South Carolina

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Myrtle Beach are strictly regulated and require an annual business license and monthly hospitality tax filings.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Greenwood

South Carolina

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Greenwood are regulated through the city's business license requirements and state-level accommodations tax compliance.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Permissive

Light-touch rules · STRs welcome

1 market

Minimal restrictions: basic registration, no permit caps, no night limits.

Orangeburg

South Carolina

Permissive

Short-term rentals in Orangeburg require a city business license, a fire marshal inspection, and compliance with local zoning and accommodations tax...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

South Carolina short-term rental regulations

Banned or owner-occupied only

Spartanburg

Charleston

Greenville

Heavy restrictions apply

Mount Pleasant

Beaufort

Charleston County

Mt. Pleasant

Clemson

Folly Beach

Rock Hill

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

Kiawah Island

Pawleys Island

Beaufort County

Surfside Beach

Isle of Palms

Hilton Head Island

Horry County

North Myrtle Beach

Lexington

Clinton

Bluffton

Columbia

Myrtle Beach

Greenwood

Light-touch rules · STRs welcome

Orangeburg

Neighboring states & common comparisons