Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Mount Pleasant?

**Yes**, a Short-Term Rental Permit and a business license are required in Mount Pleasant. You need to obtain both permits to operate legally, with a combined cost of $250. Also, you must provide proof of primary residency to qualify for certain permit types.

What is the TOT tax rate in Mount Pleasant?

**2% TOT** (Transient Occupancy Tax) is the rate you must collect from guests in Mount Pleasant. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax and remitting it to the town. It is important to factor this tax into your pricing strategy to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Mount Pleasant?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Mount Pleasant, but are strictly regulated. You are capped at renting your property for a maximum of 72 nights per calendar year. Ensure that you adhere to this limit to avoid penalties and maintain compliance.

How much does an STR permit cost in Mount Pleasant?

**$250** is the cost for the required Short-Term Rental Permit and business license in Mount Pleasant. You must pay this fee to legally operate a short-term rental property in the town. Be sure to renew your permit annually and maintain compliance with all regulations.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Mount Pleasant?

**Yes**, tenants are allowed to host on Airbnb in Mount Pleasant. However, they must obtain the required permits and licenses. Ensure that you comply with all local regulations and obtain landlord approval before operating a short-term rental in Mount Pleasant.

Mount Pleasant

Strict

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 28, 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

The Town of Mount Pleasant strictly regulates short-term rentals, capping the number of rental nights at 72 per calendar year for most residential properties. Hosts must obtain both an STR permit ($250) and a town business license, and must provide proof of primary residency to qualify for certain permit types.

Restriction level

Severity 56

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Strict night cap: 72 nights/year
Standard permit fee: $250
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Mount Pleasant, you must first get a town STR permit and a business license. You are limited to renting your home for a maximum of 72 nights per year, regardless of whether you are there or not. You also need to pass a fire safety inspection and prove where you live using your tax records. Be prepared to collect and pay a 2% local accommodations tax every month to the town finance department.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit72/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

172-night annual cap is strictly enforced and applies to all STRs regardless of host presence.
2STRs are completely prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), such as carriage houses or basement apartments.
3You must have at least one off-street parking space per STR bedroom.
4A mandatory fire inspection is required before the permit is issued.
5The 2% Local Accommodations Tax must be filed monthly, even if you had zero bookings that month.
6Permit numbers must be clearly displayed in the first line of all online listings.
7Verify if your property is within the Town limits or unincorporated Charleston County; county rules differ significantly.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility10 rules

Mount Pleasant, SC: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Mount Pleasant, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Mount Pleasant does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements22 rules

Mount Pleasant, SC has different permit classes: Owner-Occupied (Primary Residence) vs. Non-Owner Occupied. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Mount Pleasant: Permit numbers must be clearly displayed in the first line of all online listings.
Mount Pleasant: Hosts must report their rental activity monthly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process11 rules

Mount Pleasant extended permit requirement: A $100 business license fee is typically required in addition to the $250 STR permit fee.
Mount Pleasant, SC extended permit requirement: A $100 business license fee is typically required in addition to the $250 STR permit fee.

Fees & costs1 rule

Mount Pleasant charges a registration fee of $250 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (A $100 business license fee is typically required in addition to the $250 STR permit fee.).

Taxes3 rules

South Carolina has a state sales tax of 8% that applies to STR rentals.
Mount Pleasant charges a Local Accommodations Tax of 2%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state-level taxes, but hosts must verify if the 2% local tax is remitted or if they must pay the town directly.

Limits & restrictions10 rules

Mount Pleasant limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Mount Pleasant: 72-night annual cap is strictly enforced and applies to all STRs regardless of host presence.
Mount Pleasant, SC: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety requirements2 rules

Mount Pleasant requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Interconnected smoke alarms, Egress windows in sleeping areas.
Mount Pleasant: A mandatory fire inspection is required before the permit is issued.

Penalties5 rules

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

Exemptions3 rules

Mount Pleasant, SC: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Mount Pleasant 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

Mount Pleasant

Strict

South CarolinaUpdated Mar 28, 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 56

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Strict night cap: 72 nights/year
Standard permit fee: $250
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit72/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

172-night annual cap is strictly enforced and applies to all STRs regardless of host presence.
2STRs are completely prohibited in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), such as carriage houses or basement apartments.
3You must have at least one off-street parking space per STR bedroom.
4A mandatory fire inspection is required before the permit is issued.
5The 2% Local Accommodations Tax must be filed monthly, even if you had zero bookings that month.
6Permit numbers must be clearly displayed in the first line of all online listings.
7Verify if your property is within the Town limits or unincorporated Charleston County; county rules differ significantly.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility10 rules

Mount Pleasant, SC: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Mount Pleasant, SC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Mount Pleasant does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements22 rules

Mount Pleasant, SC has different permit classes: Owner-Occupied (Primary Residence) vs. Non-Owner Occupied. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Mount Pleasant: Permit numbers must be clearly displayed in the first line of all online listings.
Mount Pleasant: Hosts must report their rental activity monthly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process11 rules

Mount Pleasant extended permit requirement: A $100 business license fee is typically required in addition to the $250 STR permit fee.
Mount Pleasant, SC extended permit requirement: A $100 business license fee is typically required in addition to the $250 STR permit fee.

Fees & costs1 rule

Mount Pleasant charges a registration fee of $250 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (A $100 business license fee is typically required in addition to the $250 STR permit fee.).

Taxes3 rules

South Carolina has a state sales tax of 8% that applies to STR rentals.
Mount Pleasant charges a Local Accommodations Tax of 2%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state-level taxes, but hosts must verify if the 2% local tax is remitted or if they must pay the town directly.

Limits & restrictions10 rules

Mount Pleasant limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Mount Pleasant: 72-night annual cap is strictly enforced and applies to all STRs regardless of host presence.
Mount Pleasant, SC: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety requirements2 rules

Mount Pleasant requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Interconnected smoke alarms, Egress windows in sleeping areas.
Mount Pleasant: A mandatory fire inspection is required before the permit is issued.

Penalties5 rules

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

Exemptions3 rules

Mount Pleasant, SC: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Mount Pleasant?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Mount Pleasant?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Mount Pleasant?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Mount Pleasant?

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 Mount Pleasant?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Mount Pleasant?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Mount Pleasant?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Mount Pleasant?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Mount Pleasant?

Disclaimer