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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. South Carolina
  6. ·
  7. Beaufort County

Beaufort County

Moderate
South CarolinaUpdated Mar 9, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Beaufort County are regulated by Ordinance 2021/48, requiring an annual permit and a local contact available 24/7. Hosts must collect and remit a 3% Local Accommodations Tax in addition to state-level taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 10
Classification
Moderate
10
Severity

Why this classification

  • Tenants cannot host
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Beaufort County, you must first get a specific Short-Term Rental permit from the county. This costs $250 per year and requires you to have a local contact person who can respond to issues within 45 minutes. You also need to ensure you have enough off-street parking for your guests, as street parking is generally restricted. Finally, you are responsible for paying a 3% local tax on all bookings, which is separate from the taxes Airbnb collects for the state.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$250
Processing time14-30 business days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Verify you are NOT in the city limits of Hilton Head, Bluffton, or Beaufort - those have different, often stricter rules.
  2. 2Parking is strictly limited to 1 car per bedroom plus 1 additional car.
  3. 3The 3% Local Accommodations Tax must be remitted directly to the County Treasurer; don't assume the platform handles it all.
  4. 4You must designate a 'Local Contact Person' who lives within 45 minutes and is available 24/7.
  5. 5Trash must be removed from the property weekly and cannot be left on the curb between stays.
  6. 6Your STR permit number must be displayed in the first line of your online listing description.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility9 rules
  • Beaufort County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Beaufort County, SC: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Beaufort County, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Requirements15 rules
  • Beaufort County: Your STR permit number must be displayed in the first line of your online listing description.
  • Beaufort County, SC has different permit classes: Owner-Occupied vs. Non-Owner Occupied. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
  • Beaufort County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Application process6 rules
  • STR regulations overview for Beaufort County: Short-term rentals in unincorporated Beaufort County are regulated by Ordinance 2021/48, requiring an annual permit and a local contact available 24/7. Hosts must collect and remit a 3% Local Accommodations Tax in addition to state-level taxes.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Beaufort County charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).
Taxes3 rules
  • Beaufort County charges a Local Accommodations Tax of 3%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
  • Beaufort County: The 3% Local Accommodations Tax must be remitted directly to the County Treasurer; don't assume the platform handles it all.
  • South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • Beaufort County: Parking is strictly limited to 1 car per bedroom plus 1 additional car.
  • Beaufort County: Verify you are NOT in the city limits of Hilton Head, Bluffton, or Beaufort - those have different, often stricter rules.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Beaufort County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • Beaufort County enforces penalties: First offense: $500 fine. Maximum fine: Unspecified.
Exemptions3 rules
  • Beaufort County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
  • Beaufort County, SC: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 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

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