Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Folly Beach?

**Yes**, a Short-Term Rental Business License is required in Folly Beach. You need to obtain this permit to legally operate a short-term rental. The city caps non-primary resident licenses at 800. You must comply with Chapter 116 of the city's regulations.

What is the TOT tax rate in Folly Beach?

**8%** is the total local accommodations tax rate for short-term rentals in Folly Beach. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. This tax contributes to local tourism and infrastructure improvements, according to city guidelines.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Folly Beach?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Folly Beach, but they are regulated. There is an 800-license cap for non-primary residents. You must obtain a permit and adhere to the city's regulations outlined in Chapter 116 to operate legally. Be sure to review the guidelines.

How much does an STR permit cost in Folly Beach?

**$700** is the cost for the Short-Term Rental Business License in Folly Beach. This is the annual fee required to operate a short-term rental legally. This fee helps the city manage and regulate short-term rentals within its jurisdiction, as per city ordinances.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Folly Beach?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Folly Beach. Only property owners are allowed to apply for and obtain a short-term rental license. Renters are prohibited from subletting their units as short-term rentals.

Folly Beach

Strict

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 27, 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

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 local). Owners must pass a fire inspection and appoint a local contact available 24/7.

Restriction level

Severity 48

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $700
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Folly Beach, you must first determine if you are a primary resident or an investment owner. Investment properties are capped at 800 total licenses for the whole city, and there is currently a waitlist to get one. If you are a full-time resident, the cap does not apply, but you still need a $700 annual license and a fire safety inspection. You must also collect a local 8% tax from guests and report it to the city every quarter.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$700

Processing timeVaries due to cap/waitlist

8 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The 800-unit cap for non-primary residents is strictly enforced via a waitlist.
2Licenses are non-transferable; they do not convey with the sale of the property.
3A 24/7 local contact person must be able to respond to the property within 45 minutes.
4Maximum occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, capped at 10.
5Failure to renew by the deadline (typically December 31) results in immediate loss of the license slot to the waitlist.
6Primary residents must prove their status with a 4% tax assessment and voter registration.
7The 7% City Accommodations Tax is separate from the state sales tax and must be filed quarterly.
8Parking is strictly regulated; one off-street spot per 4 guests is generally required.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

Folly Beach, SC: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Folly Beach: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Folly Beach limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Folly Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements23 rules

Folly Beach STR warning: Primary residents must prove their status with a 4% tax assessment and voter registration.
Folly Beach: Failure to renew by the deadline (typically December 31) results in immediate loss of the license slot to the waitlist.
Folly Beach, SC has different permit classes: Investment (Capped) vs. Primary (Uncapped). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.

Application process10 rules

How to set up an STR in Folly Beach: To host an Airbnb in Folly Beach, you must first determine if you are a primary resident or an investment owner. Investment properties are capped at 800 total licenses for the whole city, and there is currently a waitlist to get one. If you are a full-time resident, the cap does not apply, but you still need a $700 annual license and a fire safety inspection. You must also collect a local 8% tax from guests and report it to the city every quarter.

Fees & costs1 rule

Folly Beach charges a registration fee of $700 (annual).

Taxes4 rules

Folly Beach: Primary residents must prove their status with a 4% tax assessment and voter registration.
Folly Beach: The 7% City Accommodations Tax is separate from the state sales tax and must be filed quarterly.
South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Folly Beach: The 800-unit cap for non-primary residents is strictly enforced via a waitlist.
Folly Beach, SC: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Folly Beach limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total (unless grandfathered).

Safety requirements1 rule

Folly Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress window compliance, Handrails on stairs with 3+ risers, GFCI outlets in wet areas.

Penalties5 rules

Folly Beach, SC: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Folly Beach, SC: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.
Folly Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions5 rules

Folly Beach: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Folly Beach, 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

Folly Beach

Strict

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 27, 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

Restriction level

Severity 48

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $700
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
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$700

Processing timeVaries due to cap/waitlist

8 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The 800-unit cap for non-primary residents is strictly enforced via a waitlist.
2Licenses are non-transferable; they do not convey with the sale of the property.
3A 24/7 local contact person must be able to respond to the property within 45 minutes.
4Maximum occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, capped at 10.
5Failure to renew by the deadline (typically December 31) results in immediate loss of the license slot to the waitlist.
6Primary residents must prove their status with a 4% tax assessment and voter registration.
7The 7% City Accommodations Tax is separate from the state sales tax and must be filed quarterly.
8Parking is strictly regulated; one off-street spot per 4 guests is generally required.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

Folly Beach, SC: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Folly Beach: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Folly Beach limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Folly Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements23 rules

Folly Beach STR warning: Primary residents must prove their status with a 4% tax assessment and voter registration.
Folly Beach: Failure to renew by the deadline (typically December 31) results in immediate loss of the license slot to the waitlist.
Folly Beach, SC has different permit classes: Investment (Capped) vs. Primary (Uncapped). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.

Application process10 rules

How to set up an STR in Folly Beach: To host an Airbnb in Folly Beach, you must first determine if you are a primary resident or an investment owner. Investment properties are capped at 800 total licenses for the whole city, and there is currently a waitlist to get one. If you are a full-time resident, the cap does not apply, but you still need a $700 annual license and a fire safety inspection. You must also collect a local 8% tax from guests and report it to the city every quarter.

Fees & costs1 rule

Folly Beach charges a registration fee of $700 (annual).

Taxes4 rules

Folly Beach: Primary residents must prove their status with a 4% tax assessment and voter registration.
Folly Beach: The 7% City Accommodations Tax is separate from the state sales tax and must be filed quarterly.
South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Folly Beach: The 800-unit cap for non-primary residents is strictly enforced via a waitlist.
Folly Beach, SC: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Folly Beach limits STRs to a maximum of 2 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total (unless grandfathered).

Safety requirements1 rule

Folly Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress window compliance, Handrails on stairs with 3+ risers, GFCI outlets in wet areas.

Penalties5 rules

Folly Beach, SC: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Folly Beach, SC: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.
Folly Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions5 rules

Folly Beach: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Folly Beach, 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

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

8 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Folly Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Folly Beach?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Folly Beach?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Folly Beach?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

8 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Folly Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Folly Beach?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Folly Beach?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Folly Beach?

Disclaimer