Short-Term Rentals in Charleston County, SC (2026)

8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Charleston County, South Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Charleston County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Every short-term rental in unincorporated Charleston County needs a Zoning Permit plus a Business License before advertising or renting. ZLDR Article 6.8 (adopted July 24, 2018) sets three permit types: Limited Home Rental, Extended Home Rental, and Commercial Guest House.

Charleston County STR Zoning Permit Requirement

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Chapter 6, Article 6.8

All Short-Term Rental Properties require a Zoning Permit and Business License. The full regulations for Short-Term Rental Properties can be found in Chapter 6, Article 6.8 of the Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance (ZLDR).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

South Carolina imposes a 7 percent state sales tax on gross proceeds from renting rooms, campground spaces, RV spaces or lodging to transients, including a private residence in unincorporated Charleston County rented short-term. A 5 percent tax also applies to add-on guest charges like room service or in-room movies. Stays of 90 or more continuous days and small owner-occupied rentals are exempt.

SC Accommodations Tax on Charleston County Rentals

Some Restrictions

S.C. Code § 12-36-920

(A) A sales tax equal to seven percent is imposed on the gross proceeds derived from the rental or charges for any rooms, campground spaces, lodgings, or sleeping accommodations furnished to transients by any hotel, inn, tourist court, tourist camp, motel, campground, residence, or any place in which rooms, lodgings, or sleeping accommodations are furnished to transients for a consideration. Th...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Charleston County requires short-term rentals to provide one on-site parking space per permitted bedroom, plus the parking already required for the applicable use. The site plan submitted with the permit application must depict the required parking.

STR Parking Requirement in Charleston County

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Art. 6.8 STR Zoning Permit Application

Number and location of Parking Spaces Provided Onsite (required parking is 1 space per permitted bedroom plus the required parking for the applicable use).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Charleston County's STR permit fixes each property's maximum sleeping capacity: the application requires the maximum number of bedrooms rented, maximum guests overall, and maximum guests per bedroom. Using five or more bedrooms for STR use may trigger additional building-code requirements.

STR Occupancy and Sleeping-Capacity Limits

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Art. 6.8 STR Zoning Permit Application

Note: Using five (5) or more bedrooms for Short-Term Rental purposes may trigger additional building code requirements. Please contact the Building Inspections Department for guidance.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Charleston County's Article 6.8 does not require a specific liability-insurance policy for short-term rentals. Instead, owners must comply with all county building-code requirements and obtain a Building Safety Permit; hosts should still confirm insurance with their carrier and platform.

Insurance and Building-Safety Rules for STRs

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Art. 6.8 STR Zoning Permit Application

The property owner is responsible for contacting the Charleston County Building Services Department... to ensure the Short-Term Rental Property complies with all Charleston County Building Code requirements. This will include applying for and receiving a Building Safety Permit.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Charleston County caps how many days a home may be rented short-term. A Limited Home Rental may be rented up to 72 days per calendar year; an Extended Home Rental up to 144 days. Individual rental terms may not exceed 29 consecutive days.

72-Day and 144-Day Rental Caps in Charleston County

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Article 6.8 (Limited Home Rental)

A Limited Home Rental is a property with an owner-occupied residential dwelling... not to exceed 72 days in the aggregate during any calendar Year, with individual rental terms not exceeding 29 consecutive days.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Charleston County's Article 6.8 does not mandate that a host be physically present during stays. A Limited Home Rental must be owner-occupied, but the ordinance permits professional management; the permit application asks whether a local property management company will manage the rental.

Host Presence and On-Site Management for STRs

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Art. 6.8 STR Zoning Permit Application

Is the Short-Term Rental Property going to be managed by a local property management company? YES NO. If yes, please provide their name & number.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Charleston County does not impose a blanket primary-residence-only rule. A Limited Home Rental must be owner-occupied, but an Extended Home Rental may be owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied. The permit application asks whether the property is owner-occupied.

Owner-Occupancy Rules for Charleston County STRs

Some Restrictions

Charleston County ZLDR Article 6.8 (Extended Home Rental)

An Extended Home Rental is a property with an owner-occupied or non owner-occupied residential dwelling, located in the S-3, R-4, M-8, M-12, or MHS Zoning Districts... for more than 72 days but not to exceed 144 days in the aggregate during any calendar year.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rentals by City in Charleston County

2 cities in Charleston County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

CharlestonPop. 150,227

7 verified rules • Host Presence Rule, Insurance Requirements

North CharlestonPop. 115,382

3 verified rules • Occupancy Limits, Short-Term Rental Permits

All Charleston County ordinances

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