Columbia, SC Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Occupancy cap
- 2 guests/bedroom plus 2
- Minimum stay
- 1 night
- Minimum booking guest age
- 18 years
- Parking required
- 2 spaces per dwelling unit
- Unpermitted STR penalty
- $500 after 15 days
Summary
Sec. 5-402(13) limits every permitted short-term rental in Columbia to two overnight guests per bedroom, excluding minor children, plus two more people for the whole dwelling unit. The cap sits alongside the two-parking-space rule and 18-and-older booking-guest requirement that govern every STR permit in the city.
Maximum occupancy. The maximum overnight occupancy of an STR shall not exceed two persons, excluding minor children, per bedroom, plus two additional people per dwelling unit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-402(13) states in full: "Maximum occupancy. " The rule sits inside the broader STR regulations that apply to every dwelling unit rented for under 30 consecutive days: Sec. 5-403 requires a current STR permit before operating, Sec. 5-402(8) sets the minimum booking guest age at 18, Sec. 5-402(9) bars stays shorter than one night, and Sec. 5-402(12) requires two designated parking spaces per unit in residential districts, with guests notified of the parking plan and vehicle limit. Owners must keep two years of records showing compliance, including the number of days rented and the name and phone number of every guest, and must remain reachable at all times, either personally or through a responsible local representative within 45 miles who can accept service of process.
Every online listing must display the current STR permit number, and the permit belongs to one dwelling unit only; operating a second STR at another address needs its own separate permit under Sec. 5-403(b).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the maximum occupancy is a violation under Sec. 5-407(a)(3) that assesses points against the STR permit: one point for a first offense, five for each repeat within 12 months, and up to ten for a serious safety violation. Fifteen points within 12 months triggers revocation proceedings under Sec. 5-408, and operating without a current permit draws a $500.00 administrative penalty under Sec. 5-410 after 15 days' notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can stay overnight at a Columbia short-term rental?
Does the occupancy cap count children?
What happens if a Columbia short-term rental exceeds the occupancy cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
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