Charleston County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Cap source
- Declared on permit application
- Must state
- Max bedrooms and max guests
- Per bedroom
- Max guests specified
- 5+ bedrooms
- May trigger building code rules
- Extra sleeping areas
- Must be listed with counts
Summary
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.
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 Breakdown
Article 6.8 ties occupancy to the approved sleeping capacity on the Zoning Permit application. Applicants must declare the maximum number of bedrooms to be rented short-term, the maximum number of guests, the maximum guests per designated bedroom, and any non-bedroom sleeping areas (sleeper sofas, daybeds, lofts, dens) with their guest counts. The application warns that using five or more bedrooms for short-term rental purposes may trigger additional building-code requirements, so operators should contact the Building Inspections Department. These declared limits become the enforceable cap for the permitted rental.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the approved sleeping capacity violates the permit; the County enforces under Article 6.8 and can revoke or decline to renew the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my guest limit set?
Can I count a sleeper sofa or loft?
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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