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

**Yes**, Surfside Beach requires a Short-Term Rental Business License. This license costs $100 and is necessary to operate legally. Make sure to apply for this license through the town's official website before listing your property on Airbnb or other platforms per Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code. *(54 words)*

What is the TOT tax rate in Surfside Beach?

**5% TOT** is the local accommodations tax rate for short-term rentals in Surfside Beach. Hosts are required to collect this tax from their guests and remit it to the town quarterly. This is in addition to any state and county taxes that may apply, as governed by Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code. *(53 words)*

Are short-term rentals allowed in Surfside Beach?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are generally permitted in Surfside Beach, but are subject to specific regulations. These rules address parking and noise control, especially in the designated 'Family Beach' area of the town. Compliance with quiet hours starting at 10:00 PM is strictly enforced per Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code. *(53 words)*

How much does an STR permit cost in Surfside Beach?

**The STR permit costs $100** in Surfside Beach. This is a one-time fee for the Short-Term Rental Business License, which is required to legally operate a vacation rental within the town limits. You must obtain this license before listing your property to avoid any fines, as stated in Chapter 12. *(54 words)*

Can renters host on Airbnb in Surfside Beach?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb in Surfside Beach. Only property owners are permitted to operate short-term rentals, assuming they have obtained the required Short-Term Rental Business License. Renters are prohibited from subletting their properties for short-term stays, per local regulations. *(48 words)*

Surfside Beach

Moderate

South CarolinaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

The Town of Surfside Beach requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a business license and pay a total accommodations tax of 12%. Regulations are codified in Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code, focusing on parking compliance and noise control in the 'Family Beach' area.

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

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 the Town of Surfside Beach, you must get a local business license and register to pay taxes. You'll need to pay a 5% local accommodations tax directly to the town every quarter, on top of the state and county taxes usually handled by booking platforms. Make sure your guests follow the 10:00 PM quiet hours and only park in your designated spots, as the town is very strict about neighborhood peace.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time1-2 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are within Town limits; many 'Surfside Beach' addresses are actually in unincorporated Horry County with different rules.
2A 12% total tax rate applies, which is higher than many inland areas.
3Parking is strictly enforced; vehicles parked on the grass or blocking sidewalks will be ticketed.
4Stays 90 days or longer are exempt from the accommodations tax.
5Golf carts are considered vehicles and must follow all standard parking and traffic laws.
6Quiet hours start early at 10:00 PM and are strictly enforced to maintain the 'Family Beach' atmosphere.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Surfside Beach: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Surfside Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Surfside Beach: Short-term rentals (under 12 months) are strictly prohibited in the R1 Zoning District.

Requirements12 rules

Surfside Beach has different permit classes: Short-Term Rental / Residential Rental. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Surfside Beach requires STR registration. The permit is called "Business License". Apply through Finance Department. Processing time: 1-2 weeks. Renewal is required.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Surfside Beach: To host an Airbnb in Surfside Beach, you must first ensure your property isn't in the R1 zone, where short-term rentals are banned. You'll need to get an annual business license from the town's Finance Department and register with the state for a retail license. Every month, you must file a tax return with the town for the 1.5% local hospitality and accommodations tax, even if Airbnb collects the money for you. Keep in mind that 'short-term' here means anything less than 90 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

Surfside Beach charges a registration fee of $90 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $2.27 (Fee is $90.00 on the first $2,000.00 of gross income, plus $2.27 per $1,000.00 thereafter.).

Taxes6 rules

Surfside Beach: The 1.5% town tax consists of two separate line items: a 1% Hospitality Fee and a 0.5% Local Accommodations Tax.
Surfside Beach: Horry County and the State of South Carolina charge additional taxes that are not covered by the town's 1.5% rate.
South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Surfside Beach limits stays to a maximum of 89 nights.
Surfside Beach enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

Safety requirements1 rule

Surfside Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties3 rules

Surfside Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Surfside Beach: Failure to file the monthly tax return by the 20th of the month results in a 5% monthly penalty.

Exemptions2 rules

Surfside Beach: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Surfside Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Surfside Beach

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain SC Retail License

1-3 days$50

Official resource

Step 2

Apply for Town Business License

Submit a Business License application to the Town of Surfside Beach Finance Department.

1 week$100

Documents needed

Business License Application form

Official resource

Step 3

Register for Accommodations Tax

Set up your account for quarterly reporting of the local 5% accommodations tax.

Same dayFree

Official resource

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

Surfside Beach

Moderate

South CarolinaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

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$100

Processing time1-2 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are within Town limits; many 'Surfside Beach' addresses are actually in unincorporated Horry County with different rules.
2A 12% total tax rate applies, which is higher than many inland areas.
3Parking is strictly enforced; vehicles parked on the grass or blocking sidewalks will be ticketed.
4Stays 90 days or longer are exempt from the accommodations tax.
5Golf carts are considered vehicles and must follow all standard parking and traffic laws.
6Quiet hours start early at 10:00 PM and are strictly enforced to maintain the 'Family Beach' atmosphere.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Surfside Beach: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Surfside Beach does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Surfside Beach: Short-term rentals (under 12 months) are strictly prohibited in the R1 Zoning District.

Requirements12 rules

Surfside Beach has different permit classes: Short-Term Rental / Residential Rental. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Surfside Beach requires STR registration. The permit is called "Business License". Apply through Finance Department. Processing time: 1-2 weeks. Renewal is required.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Surfside Beach: To host an Airbnb in Surfside Beach, you must first ensure your property isn't in the R1 zone, where short-term rentals are banned. You'll need to get an annual business license from the town's Finance Department and register with the state for a retail license. Every month, you must file a tax return with the town for the 1.5% local hospitality and accommodations tax, even if Airbnb collects the money for you. Keep in mind that 'short-term' here means anything less than 90 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

Surfside Beach charges a registration fee of $90 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $2.27 (Fee is $90.00 on the first $2,000.00 of gross income, plus $2.27 per $1,000.00 thereafter.).

Taxes6 rules

Surfside Beach: The 1.5% town tax consists of two separate line items: a 1% Hospitality Fee and a 0.5% Local Accommodations Tax.
Surfside Beach: Horry County and the State of South Carolina charge additional taxes that are not covered by the town's 1.5% rate.
South Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Surfside Beach limits stays to a maximum of 89 nights.
Surfside Beach enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

Safety requirements1 rule

Surfside Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties3 rules

Surfside Beach: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Surfside Beach: Failure to file the monthly tax return by the 20th of the month results in a 5% monthly penalty.

Exemptions2 rules

Surfside Beach: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Surfside Beach exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Surfside Beach

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain SC Retail License

1-3 days$50

Official resource

Step 2

Apply for Town Business License

Submit a Business License application to the Town of Surfside Beach Finance Department.

1 week$100

Documents needed

Business License Application form

Official resource

Step 3

Register for Accommodations Tax

Set up your account for quarterly reporting of the local 5% accommodations tax.

Same dayFree

Official resource

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

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain SC Retail License

Apply for Town Business License

Register for Accommodations Tax

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Surfside Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Surfside Beach?

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

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Surfside Beach?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain SC Retail License

Apply for Town Business License

Register for Accommodations Tax

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Surfside Beach?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Surfside Beach?

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

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Surfside Beach?

Disclaimer