GoStudioM - Airbnb & VRBO Hosting Education Platform
CalendarAnalyzerAnalyticsLearnPricing
Guides
Videos
All VideosBest VideosTrending
NewsRulesTopics
GoStudioM - Airbnb & VRBO Hosting Education Platform

Built for hosts, by a host

Listing Analyzer

  • Get Listing Score
  • Title Generator
  • Review Responder
  • Guest Review Writer
  • All Listing Tools →

Cleaning Calendar

  • Try Calendar Free
  • Superhost Calculator
  • Maintenance Planner
  • All Operations Tools →

Financial Analytics

  • See Your Numbers
  • Fee Calculator
  • Special Offer Calculator
  • All Financial Tools →

Learn

  • Videos
  • News
  • Rules
  • Topics
  • Hosting Guides →

Compare

  • Best Cleaning Software
  • Turno Alternative
  • Properly Alternative
  • Hospitable Alternative
  • AirDNA Alternative

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • SMS Consent
  • Contact Us

© 2026 GoStudioM. All rights reserved.

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

Clinton

Moderate
South CarolinaUpdated Mar 30, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 8, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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

Restriction level

Severity 8
Classification
Moderate
8
Severity

Why this classification

  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To operate a short-term rental in Clinton, you must obtain a city business license and register to collect local and state accommodations taxes. There is currently no standalone short-term rental permit or specific zoning ban, but all operators must comply with standard business regulations and health/safety codes.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$50
Processing time1-2 weeks

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Total sales tax in Clinton is 8% (6% State + 1% Local Option + 1% Capital Project), making the total combined tax on stays 12-13%.
  2. 2A business license is mandatory even for single-property hosts.
  3. 3The city imposes a strict 2% local accommodations tax in addition to the state's 2% accommodations tax.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Clinton allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Apartment, Guest House.
  • Clinton does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Clinton: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Clinton: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements9 rules
  • Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Clinton: 1. Total sales tax in Clinton is 8% (6% State + 1% Local Option + 1% Capital Project), making the total combined tax on stays 12-13%. 2. A business license is mandatory even for single-property hosts. 3. The city imposes a strict 2% local accommodations tax in addition to the state's 2% accommodations tax.
Application process8 rules
  • Clinton extended permit requirement: Business license fees are calculated based on gross income; the base rate for Class 1 businesses is typically approximately $50 for the first $2,000 of income.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Clinton charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).
Taxes3 rules
  • Clinton: The city imposes a strict 2% local accommodations tax in addition to the state's 2% accommodations tax.
  • South Carolina has a state sales tax of 0.08% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions3 rules
  • Clinton: Total sales tax in Clinton is 8% (6% State + 1% Local Option + 1% Capital Project), making the total combined tax on stays 12-13%.
  • Clinton limits stays to a maximum of 89 nights.
  • Clinton enforces quiet hours: 11pm-7am.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Clinton requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, Compliance with International Building Code (IBC), Certificate of Occupancy for business use.
Penalties3 rules
  • Clinton: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.
  • Clinton enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies. Second offense: Varies. Third offense: Varies. Daily fine: 500.00. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Clinton exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Rentals for fewer than 15 days per year in a primary residence may be exempt from certain state taxes..
  • Clinton: 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 Clinton

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning and Building Safety

Contact the City of Clinton Building and Zoning Inspector to ensure your property is compliant with the residential safety guidelines and allowed for business use.

1-3 daysFree
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain State Retail License

Register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) to obtain a retail license for the collection and remittance of state sales and accommodations taxes.

1 week$50
Documents needed
  • SSN or EIN
Official resource
Step 3

Apply for City Business License

Submit a business license application to the Clinton Finance Department. Fees are based on projected gross revenue and NAICS classification.

1-2 weeks$50
Documents needed
  • Business License Application Form
  • SCDOR Retail License
Official resource
Step 4

Register for Local Accommodations Tax

Establish a reporting account with the city to remit the 2% local accommodations tax on a monthly basis.

1 dayFree
Official resource

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

Related Content

Other South Carolina markets
Pawleys IslandModerate

The Town of Pawleys Island requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual Town...

· Permit· 0.1% tax
Beaufort CountyModerate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Beaufort County are regulated by Ordinance 2021/48, requiring...

· Permit· 0.1% tax
Mount PleasantStrict

The Town of Mount Pleasant strictly regulates short-term rentals, capping the number of rental...

· Permit· Night cap· 0.1% tax
Kiawah IslandModerate

Kiawah Island strictly regulates short-term rentals through a mandatory licensing program and...

· Permit· 0.1% tax