Adams Run, SC

Charleston County (the unincorporated areas surrounding the City of Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island) regulates short-term rentals through Article 6.8 of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance (ZLDR), Chapter 6, adopted by County Council on July 24, 2018. Operators in unincorporated Charleston County must obtain (1) an annual Short-Term Rental Property Zoning Permit in one of three categories (Limited Home Rental, Extended Home Rental, or Commercial Guest House), (2) a County Business License, (3) registration with SCDOR for State Sales and Accommodations Tax under S.C. Code Title 12, Chapter 36, and (4) registration with Charleston County Revenue Collections for the 2% Local Accommodations Tax established by Ordinance #910 (Nov. 16, 1993). Each incorporated municipality (Charleston, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, etc.) administers its own STR rules separately; this entry covers unincorporated Charleston County only.

Charleston County allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per existing lot under Section 6.5.9 of the Zoning and Land Development Regulations (ZLDR). In the Rural Area, the lot must be at least 50% larger than the district minimum and the ADU's heated gross floor area cannot exceed 1,500 square feet; in the Urban/Suburban Residential and RO districts, ADUs follow the dimensional setback standards of Section 6.5.8.B.3 but are not required to sit wholly behind the principal structure. Detached ADUs require a separate electrical meter; attached ADUs may not have one.

Charleston County is a coastal NFIP community with one of the highest Community Rating System (CRS) scores in the United States, governed by Chapter 9 (Flood Damage Prevention and Protection) of the County Code, most recently amended by Ordinance No. 2306 adopted August 13, 2024. Construction in mapped FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas along the Atlantic coast, harbor, and tidal creeks must meet strict elevation, foundation, and Elevation Certificate requirements. The county has been a Class 2 CRS community, providing eligible policyholders in unincorporated areas a 40% flood insurance premium discount.