11 verified short-term rentals rules for Charleston, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Charleston requires a Short-Term Rental Permit under the Accommodations Ordinance (Chapter 29, Article X). All STR operators must register, obtain a business license, and meet zoning and safety requirements.
Short-term rental guests in Charleston must comply with the city's noise ordinance. STR operators are responsible for ensuring guests do not create excessive noise, especially during nighttime hours.
Charleston STR operators must collect and remit a 2% Local Accommodations Tax and the state's 7% Accommodations Tax. A city business license fee also applies based on gross rental income.
Charleston requires STR operators to provide adequate parking for guests. Operators must include parking information in the listing and guest materials. On-street parking rules apply in many areas.
Charleston Ord. 2018-141 caps short-term-rental occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two additional persons, with a hard ceiling tied to the certificate of occupancy regardless of dwelling size or layout.
Charleston requires every short-term-rental operator to carry liability insurance covering commercial transient use, with proof attached to the annual permit application reviewed by Livability and Tourism staff before issuance.
Category 1 short-term rentals in Charleston's residential zones require the owner to use the property as a primary residence and remain physically present during guest stays, with strict documentation reviewed annually.
Charleston restricts residential-zone short-term rentals to owner-occupied primary residences claiming the four-percent legal residence assessment ratio, blocking investor-owned vacation homes from operating outside designated commercial categories.
Charleston Livability and Tourism staff revoke short-term-rental permits after three sustained violations within twelve months, with a one-year cooling-off period before the same property may reapply for any STR category.
Charleston requires every short-term-rental listing on Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms to display the city-issued permit number prominently, shifting partial enforcement responsibility onto hosting platforms operating within municipal limits.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Charleston city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Charleston County →