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

10 rules for unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

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

Permit Requirements

Unincorporated Spartanburg County has no zoning permit for short-term rentals—the county's Planning Department does not regulate them. Inside the City of Spartanburg, STRs are treated like hotels/motels and need a business license plus zoning verification and certificate of occupancy.

Do You Need an STR Permit in Spartanburg County?

Some Restrictions

Spartanburg County Planning FAQ (official)

The County Planning Department does not have zoning regulations pertaining to short-term rentals.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

There is no STR-specific noise rule. Guests and hosts must follow the same noise ordinance that applies to everyone—Spartanburg County's noise provisions in unincorporated areas, and the City of Spartanburg noise ordinance inside city limits.

STR Noise Rules in Spartanburg County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

SC imposes a 7% sales-and-accommodations tax on rentals to transients, including a 2% state accommodations tax. Spartanburg County and the City of Spartanburg may add local accommodations taxes, but the combined local rate cannot exceed 3%.

Short-Term Rental Taxes in Spartanburg County

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.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Unincorporated Spartanburg County has no STR-specific parking rule, though its development regulations set general off-street parking standards by use. In the City of Spartanburg, STRs must show a parking plan meeting the standards for their commercial or mixed-use zone.

STR Parking Rules in Spartanburg County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

The unincorporated county sets no short-term-rental occupancy cap—it has no STR zoning at all. Occupancy is governed by the adopted building/property-maintenance codes. In the City of Spartanburg, STRs operate as hotel/motel uses subject to code occupancy limits.

STR Occupancy Limits in Spartanburg County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

No county or state law mandates specific short-term-rental insurance. The county does not regulate STRs, and South Carolina sets no STR liability-coverage requirement. Hosts commonly carry commercial general liability coverage, but it is a business best practice, not a code mandate here.

STR Insurance Requirements in Spartanburg County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Spartanburg County and South Carolina set no cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may be booked. State law only defines transient stays as fewer than 90 continuous days for accommodations-tax purposes.

Annual Night Caps on Spartanburg STRs

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

The unincorporated county has no traditional zoning and no STR registration program. Operators must register with the SC Department of Revenue for accommodations tax and, inside the City of Spartanburg, obtain an annual business license.

STR Registration Rules in Spartanburg County

Some Restrictions

Spartanburg County Planning FAQ (official)

Spartanburg County does not have traditional zoning that dictates the type of development for particular parcels as you might find in a municipality.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

No rule requires a host to be present during a stay. Spartanburg County has no STR zoning, and South Carolina sets no owner-on-site mandate. Whole-home, unhosted rentals are allowed where the underlying zoning permits STRs.

Host-Presence Requirements for Spartanburg STRs

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Neither the unincorporated county nor state law limits STRs to a host's primary residence. State law does exempt small owner-occupied lodgings—fewer than six sleeping rooms in the owner's place of abode—from the accommodations tax.

Primary-Residence STR Rules in Spartanburg County

Some Restrictions

S.C. Code §12-36-920(A)

This tax does not apply where the facilities consist of less than six sleeping rooms, contained on the same premises, which is used as the individual's place of abode.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Spartanburg County ordinances

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