Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Horry County?

**Yes**, a Short-Term Rental Certificate is required in unincorporated Horry County. You need to obtain this one-time certificate, per Chapter 13, Article V, to legally operate a short-term rental. The certificate helps the county track and manage short-term rental activity. Make sure to apply promptly. *(54 words)*

What is the TOT tax rate in Horry County?

**2% Local Accommodations Tax** and a 1.5% Hospitality Fee apply to short-term rentals in Horry County. You are responsible for collecting these taxes from guests and remitting them to the county in addition to state-level taxes. Failure to collect and remit these taxes can result in penalties and fines. *(54 words)*

How much does an STR permit cost in Horry County?

**The STR Certificate costs** $50 in unincorporated Horry County. This is a one-time fee to register your short-term rental with the county. You need to pay this fee when you submit your application for the Short-Term Rental Certificate. Make sure to include this fee with your application to avoid delays. *(54 words)*

Can renters host on Airbnb in Horry County?

**No**, tenants are not authorized to host short-term rentals in Horry County. Only property owners can apply for and obtain a Short-Term Rental Certificate. Renting out a property that you do not own on a short-term basis is prohibited and may result in penalties for both the tenant and the property owner. *(57 words)*

Horry County

Moderate

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 25, 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 Horry County are regulated under Chapter 13, Article V, requiring a one-time $50 STR Certificate. Hosts must collect and remit a 2% Local Accommodations Tax and a 1.5% Hospitality Fee in addition to state-level taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

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 Horry County, you must first apply for an STR Certificate from the Planning and Zoning department for a one-time fee of $50. You are required to follow occupancy limits (usually 2 people per bedroom plus 2 extra) and post your certificate number on your listing. You must also register to pay the local 2% accommodations tax and 1.5% hospitality fee every month, even if platforms like Airbnb collect some of your state taxes.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are in UNINCORPORATED Horry County; Myrtle Beach city rules are much stricter.
2The STR Certificate fee is a one-time $50 charge, not annual.
3A 1.5% Hospitality Fee applies to all rentals in addition to the 2% Local Accommodations Tax.
4Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests total.
5Stays longer than 90 days are exempt from the STR ordinance and local lodging taxes.
6You must provide proof of a regular trash collection service as part of your application.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Horry County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Condominiums, Townhomes.
Horry County does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Horry County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Horry County, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements14 rules

Horry County, SC has different permit classes: Standard STR Certificate. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Horry County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process6 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Horry County: Step 1: Verify Jurisdiction - Ensure your property is in UNINCORPORATED Horry County. If you are inside Myrtle Beach or Conway limits, these rules do not apply. Estimated time: 5 minutes. More info: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/it/gis/ Step 2: Submit STR Certificate Application - Apply for the required Short-Term Rental Certificate through the Planning & Zoning Department. Documents needed: Property tax map number, Trash collection evidence. Estimated time: 2 weeks. Cost: 50. More info: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/planning-and-zoning/short-term-rentals/ Step 3: Establish Tax Accounts - Register with the Horry County Treasurer for Local Accommodations Tax and Hospitality Fee remittance. Documents needed: STR Certificate Number. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/treasurer/accommodations-tax/

Fees & costs2 rules

Horry County: The STR Certificate fee is a one-time $50 charge, not annual.
Horry County charges a registration fee of $50 (one_time).

Taxes3 rules

South Carolina has a state sales tax of 0.08% that applies to STR rentals.
Horry County charges a Local Accommodations Tax of 0.02%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Horry County: A 1.5% Hospitality Fee applies to all rentals in addition to the 2% Local Accommodations Tax.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Horry County: Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests total.

Safety requirements1 rule

Horry County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties1 rule

Horry County enforces penalties: First offense: $500 fine. Maximum fine: Varies by court.

Exemptions4 rules

Horry 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).
Horry County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).

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

Horry County

Moderate

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 25, 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 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
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$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are in UNINCORPORATED Horry County; Myrtle Beach city rules are much stricter.
2The STR Certificate fee is a one-time $50 charge, not annual.
3A 1.5% Hospitality Fee applies to all rentals in addition to the 2% Local Accommodations Tax.
4Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests total.
5Stays longer than 90 days are exempt from the STR ordinance and local lodging taxes.
6You must provide proof of a regular trash collection service as part of your application.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Horry County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Condominiums, Townhomes.
Horry County does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Horry County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Horry County, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements14 rules

Horry County, SC has different permit classes: Standard STR Certificate. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Horry County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process6 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Horry County: Step 1: Verify Jurisdiction - Ensure your property is in UNINCORPORATED Horry County. If you are inside Myrtle Beach or Conway limits, these rules do not apply. Estimated time: 5 minutes. More info: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/it/gis/ Step 2: Submit STR Certificate Application - Apply for the required Short-Term Rental Certificate through the Planning & Zoning Department. Documents needed: Property tax map number, Trash collection evidence. Estimated time: 2 weeks. Cost: 50. More info: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/planning-and-zoning/short-term-rentals/ Step 3: Establish Tax Accounts - Register with the Horry County Treasurer for Local Accommodations Tax and Hospitality Fee remittance. Documents needed: STR Certificate Number. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/treasurer/accommodations-tax/

Fees & costs2 rules

Horry County: The STR Certificate fee is a one-time $50 charge, not annual.
Horry County charges a registration fee of $50 (one_time).

Taxes3 rules

South Carolina has a state sales tax of 0.08% that applies to STR rentals.
Horry County charges a Local Accommodations Tax of 0.02%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Horry County: A 1.5% Hospitality Fee applies to all rentals in addition to the 2% Local Accommodations Tax.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Horry County: Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests total.

Safety requirements1 rule

Horry County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties1 rule

Horry County enforces penalties: First offense: $500 fine. Maximum fine: Varies by court.

Exemptions4 rules

Horry 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).
Horry County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).

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

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Horry County?

3How much does an STR permit cost in Horry County?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Horry County?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Horry County?

3How much does an STR permit cost in Horry County?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Horry County?

Disclaimer