Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Isle of Palms?

**Yes**, Isle of Palms requires a Short-Term Rental Business License. You need this license to legally operate a short-term rental. The city has a cap of 1,600 non-owner occupied units. Be sure to apply and adhere to safety inspections, parking, and occupancy limits.

What is the TOT tax rate in Isle of Palms?

**7% TOT** is the current tax rate for short-term rentals in Isle of Palms. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Ensure accurate collection and timely submission to remain compliant with local tax regulations. Check with the city for any updates.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Isle of Palms?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Isle of Palms, but they are strictly regulated. The city has a licensing system and a cap of 1,600 non-owner occupied units. You need to adhere to all regulations, including safety inspections, occupancy limits, and parking restrictions to remain compliant.

How much does an STR permit cost in Isle of Palms?

**$1,200 annually** is the fee for a Short-Term Rental Business License in Isle of Palms. You need to pay this fee to legally operate your short-term rental. Be sure to factor this cost into your budget and renew your license annually to avoid penalties and maintain compliance with local regulations.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Isle of Palms?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Isle of Palms. Only property owners can obtain a Short-Term Rental Business License. Renters must obtain permission and licensing through the owner, as well as adhere to the occupancy and parking limits.

Isle of Palms

Moderate

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 22, 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

Isle of Palms strictly regulates STRs through a licensing system that includes a cap of 1,600 non-owner occupied units. Hosts must pay a $1,200 annual fee, pass safety inspections, and strictly adhere to occupancy and parking limits.

Restriction level

Severity 33

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $1200
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 Isle of Palms, you need to be very aware of the licensing cap; if you don't live in the property full-time, you might have to join a waitlist if the 1,600 limit is met. You'll need to pay a fairly high annual fee of $1,200 and pass a fire safety inspection every year. Make sure you don't exceed the occupancy limit (usually 2 people per bedroom plus 2) and that your guests follow the strict parking and noise rules, or you could lose your license.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$1,200

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1A cap of 1,600 licenses exists for non-owner occupied properties; check availability before purchasing.
2The annual fee is a flat $1,200, which is significantly higher than most neighboring jurisdictions.
3Parking is strictly enforced; you must provide one off-street space per bedroom.
4Owner-occupied properties (assessed at 4%) are exempt from the 1,600 license cap.
5Advertisements must include the valid City of Isle of Palms business license number.
6A new fire inspection is required annually before the license can be renewed.
7Trash must be managed via specific roll-out/roll-back services or strict owner compliance.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Isle of Palms, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Isle of Palms: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Isle of Palms: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Isle of Palms allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Multi-family, Condos.

Requirements21 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Isle of Palms: 1. A cap of 1,600 licenses exists for non-owner occupied properties; check availability before purchasing. 2. The annual fee is a flat $1,200, which is significantly higher than most neighboring jurisdictions. 3. Parking is strictly enforced; you must provide one off-street space per bedroom. 4. Owner-occupied properties (assessed at 4%) are exempt from the 1,600 license cap. 5. Advertisements must include the valid City of Isle of Palms business license number. 6. A new fire inspection is required annually before the license can be renewed. 7. Trash must be managed via specific roll-out/roll-back services or strict owner compliance.

Application process10 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Isle of Palms: Step 1: Zoning Verification - Confirm your property is in a zone that allows STRs and check if the 1,600 non-owner occupied cap has been reached. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.iop.net/short-term-rentals Step 2: Pass Fire Inspection - Schedule and pass a mandatory rental safety inspection with the Isle of Palms Fire Department. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://www.iop.net/fire-department Step 3: Apply for Business License - Submit the Short-Term Rental Business License application along with the required $1,200 annual fee. Documents needed: Lease agreements (if any), Proof of 4% vs 6% tax assessment, Parking plan. Estimated time: 2 weeks. Cost: 1200. More info: https://www.iop.net/short-term-rentals

Fees & costs2 rules

Isle of Palms: The annual fee is a flat $1,200, which is significantly higher than most neighboring jurisdictions.
Isle of Palms charges a registration fee of $1200 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Isle of Palms charges a Municipal Accommodations Tax of 7%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state/local taxes, but hosts must ensure the 1% Municipal Accommodations Tax and 6% Local Accommodations Tax are fully covered.
South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Isle of Palms enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 10:00 AM.
Isle of Palms: A cap of 1,600 licenses exists for non-owner occupied properties; check availability before purchasing.
Isle of Palms occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed 12 total. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements2 rules

Isle of Palms requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress window requirements, Parking plan showing 1 space per bedroom.
Isle of Palms: A new fire inspection is required annually before the license can be renewed.

Penalties3 rules

Isle of Palms enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: Suspension of license. Third offense: Revocation of license. Daily fine: $500. Maximum fine: $500 per day per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Isle of Palms: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions6 rules

Isle of Palms: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Isle of Palms: Owner-occupied properties (assessed at 4%) are exempt from the 1,600 license cap.
Isle of Palms exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

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

Isle of Palms

Moderate

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 22, 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 33

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

High permit fee: $1200
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$1,200

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1A cap of 1,600 licenses exists for non-owner occupied properties; check availability before purchasing.
2The annual fee is a flat $1,200, which is significantly higher than most neighboring jurisdictions.
3Parking is strictly enforced; you must provide one off-street space per bedroom.
4Owner-occupied properties (assessed at 4%) are exempt from the 1,600 license cap.
5Advertisements must include the valid City of Isle of Palms business license number.
6A new fire inspection is required annually before the license can be renewed.
7Trash must be managed via specific roll-out/roll-back services or strict owner compliance.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Isle of Palms, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Isle of Palms: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Isle of Palms: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Isle of Palms allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Multi-family, Condos.

Requirements21 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Isle of Palms: 1. A cap of 1,600 licenses exists for non-owner occupied properties; check availability before purchasing. 2. The annual fee is a flat $1,200, which is significantly higher than most neighboring jurisdictions. 3. Parking is strictly enforced; you must provide one off-street space per bedroom. 4. Owner-occupied properties (assessed at 4%) are exempt from the 1,600 license cap. 5. Advertisements must include the valid City of Isle of Palms business license number. 6. A new fire inspection is required annually before the license can be renewed. 7. Trash must be managed via specific roll-out/roll-back services or strict owner compliance.

Application process10 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Isle of Palms: Step 1: Zoning Verification - Confirm your property is in a zone that allows STRs and check if the 1,600 non-owner occupied cap has been reached. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.iop.net/short-term-rentals Step 2: Pass Fire Inspection - Schedule and pass a mandatory rental safety inspection with the Isle of Palms Fire Department. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://www.iop.net/fire-department Step 3: Apply for Business License - Submit the Short-Term Rental Business License application along with the required $1,200 annual fee. Documents needed: Lease agreements (if any), Proof of 4% vs 6% tax assessment, Parking plan. Estimated time: 2 weeks. Cost: 1200. More info: https://www.iop.net/short-term-rentals

Fees & costs2 rules

Isle of Palms: The annual fee is a flat $1,200, which is significantly higher than most neighboring jurisdictions.
Isle of Palms charges a registration fee of $1200 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Isle of Palms charges a Municipal Accommodations Tax of 7%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state/local taxes, but hosts must ensure the 1% Municipal Accommodations Tax and 6% Local Accommodations Tax are fully covered.
South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Isle of Palms enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 10:00 AM.
Isle of Palms: A cap of 1,600 licenses exists for non-owner occupied properties; check availability before purchasing.
Isle of Palms occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed 12 total. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements2 rules

Isle of Palms requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress window requirements, Parking plan showing 1 space per bedroom.
Isle of Palms: A new fire inspection is required annually before the license can be renewed.

Penalties3 rules

Isle of Palms enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: Suspension of license. Third offense: Revocation of license. Daily fine: $500. Maximum fine: $500 per day per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Isle of Palms: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions6 rules

Isle of Palms: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Isle of Palms: Owner-occupied properties (assessed at 4%) are exempt from the 1,600 license cap.
Isle of Palms exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

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

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Isle of Palms?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Isle of Palms?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Isle of Palms?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Isle of Palms?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Isle of Palms?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Isle of Palms?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Isle of Palms?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Isle of Palms?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Isle of Palms?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Isle of Palms?

Disclaimer