Charleston hotel guests pay roughly 14% combined accommodations tax: 6% SC sales, 2% SC accommodations tax, plus city and Charleston County local accommodations levies funding tourism and infrastructure.
Charleston accommodations are subject to a layered tax stack: 6% South Carolina sales tax under SC §12-36, 2% South Carolina accommodations tax under SC §12-36-920, plus local accommodations and hospitality fees imposed by Charleston Code Chapter 36 and Charleston County. The combined effective rate on hotel rooms is approximately 14%. Operators including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and short-term rentals must register with SCDOR, collect the tax, and remit monthly. Revenue funds the Charleston Visitor Center, tourism promotion, beach renourishment, and historic-district infrastructure.
Failure to collect or remit accommodations tax results in penalties, interest, and potential business license revocation; willful evasion is a misdemeanor under SC tax law.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Charleston, SC
Charleston does not regulate residential lawn ornaments such as statues, garden gnomes, flamingos, religious displays, or holiday figures on private property...
Charleston, SC
Charleston's sign provisions in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 54) prohibit commercial inflatable advertising devices, balloons, and similar wind-driven attenti...
Charleston, SC
Charleston does not impose general municipal time limits on residential holiday lights, and the Zoning Ordinance sign provisions exempt non-commercial reside...
Charleston, SC
Outdoor kitchens with permanent gas lines, water/sewer connections, electrical wiring, or roofed structures require permits in Charleston. A covered or walle...
Charleston, SC
Charcoal, wood, and pellet smokers are treated as open-flame cooking devices under the 2021 IFC adopted by South Carolina. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits thei...
Charleston, SC
Charleston follows the 2021 International Fire Code as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking...
See how Charleston's transient occupancy tax rules stack up against other locations.
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