Insurance Requirements: Charleston vs North Charleston
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Charleston, SC and North Charleston, SC?
North Charleston has fewer restrictions than Charleston.
Charleston, SC
Charleston County
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.
View full Charleston rules βNorth Charleston, SC
Charleston County
North Charleston's short-term rental ordinance (Section 4-21 of Appendix A) does not impose a specific liability-insurance minimum on STR operators, unlike the City of Charleston which requires $1,000,000 per occurrence; carriers and platforms still strongly recommend coverage.
View full North Charleston rules βKey Facts Comparison
| Fact | Charleston | North Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Min coverage | Equivalent of $1M | - |
| Proof | Certificate of insurance | - |
| Renewal | Annually | - |
| Lapses | Auto-suspension | - |
| Code | - | Sec. 4-21, App. A (Ord. 2023-022) |
| Min Coverage | - | Not specified by city |
| Compare | - | Charleston: $1M/occurrence |
| Required | - | STR Permit + Business License |
| Initial Fee | - | $350 |
| Annual Renewal | - | $250 (by Feb 28) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Charleston FAQ
Does Airbnb's AirCover satisfy the requirement?
Generally yes, if you list exclusively on a platform offering host liability coverage of similar limits. Multi-platform hosts should still carry an independent rider.
Will my homeowners policy work?
Probably not. Most South Carolina homeowners policies exclude commercial transient rentals; ask for a short-term-rental endorsement or standalone policy.
North Charleston FAQ
Does North Charleston SC require liability insurance for short-term rentals?
Section 4-21 of the city's STR ordinance does not set a specific insurance dollar minimum for STR operators, although coverage is strongly recommended and may be required by HOAs, lenders, or rental platforms.
Is North Charleston's STR insurance rule the same as Charleston's?
No. The City of Charleston requires a general liability policy of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence; North Charleston's Section 4-21 does not impose an equivalent dollar threshold.
Will my homeowners policy cover a North Charleston Airbnb?
Typically not. Standard homeowners policies usually exclude commercial short-term rental activity, so operators usually need a dedicated STR or commercial general liability policy regardless of city law.
Compare other topics
See how Charleston and North Charleston compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool