Charleston County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Host-present mandate
- None in Article 6.8
- Limited Home Rental
- Owner-occupied dwelling
- Property manager
- Local company allowed
- Application asks
- Manager name and number
- Responsible party
- Owner remains liable
Summary
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.
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 Breakdown
There is no county rule requiring an on-site host or 24/7 caretaker during guest stays. The owner-occupancy distinction applies to the dwelling's status (Limited = owner-occupied), not to a requirement that the owner sleep on-site every rental night. The STR Zoning Permit application specifically asks whether the property will be managed by a local property management company and, if so, for its name and number, indicating off-site professional management is allowed. For accountability, the owner remains responsible for compliance, building-code safety, and displaying permit and business-license numbers in advertisements.
Violations & Fines
No standalone host-presence penalty; failure to maintain a responsible party or compliant operation is enforced through the permit and Article 6.8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be present when guests stay?
Can a management company run my rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
Compare Charleston County to another location·View the South Carolina short-term rentals overview
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