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Beaufort County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing standard: CDC Division 5.5, Table 5.5.40.B
Single-family detached requirement: 3.0 spaces per unit
ADU parking requirement: 1.0 space per unit
Multi-family 2-3 bedroom: 2.0 + 0.25 guest per unit
Director adjustment allowed: +/-20% via parking study
Governing STR section: CDC § 4.1.360(C)(1)(b)

Summary

Short-term rental tenants in unincorporated Beaufort County must park under the county's general off-street parking table, Division 5.5, which Section 4.1.360(C)(1)(b) applies directly to STRPs; for the single-family detached houses that make up most rentals, that table requires 3.0 parking spaces per unit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Beaufort County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

b.Parking for Short-Term Rental Tenants shall be in compliance with Division 5.5 of the County Community Development Code. ... Dwelling: Single-Family: Detached 3.0 per unit ... Dwelling: Accessory/Secondary Unit 1.0 per unit

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).

Full Breakdown

5 of the Community Development Code, the county's general off-street parking division. B, Number of Motor Vehicle Parking Spaces Required, assigns the count by dwelling type rather than by rental status. 0 space per unit. 40(A)(2) lets the Director allow up to a 20-percent increase or reduction in the required spaces if a parking demand study, approved by the County Traffic and Transportation Engineer, supports the change. 5 dwelling-type row applies to the unit being rented.

Violations & Fines

A short-term rental cited for guest vehicles that violate Division 5.5, such as parking in a right-of-way or exceeding the site's approved off-street count, is treated as a violation of Article 4.1.360's general standards; combined with two other violations within 12 months, it can support administrative revocation of the STRP permit under Section 4.1.360(E), the same enforcement mechanism used for any other violation of the short-term rental article.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many parking spaces does a Beaufort County short-term rental need?

It depends on the dwelling type, because Section 4.1.360(C)(1)(b) sends STRP parking to the county's general Table 5.5.40.B. A single-family detached house, the most common short-term rental, needs 3.0 spaces per unit; an accessory dwelling unit used as an STRP needs 1.0 space.

Can Beaufort County change the parking requirement for a short-term rental?

Yes. Section 5.5.40(A)(2) lets the Director allow up to a 20 percent increase or reduction in required parking spaces if a parking demand study, approved by the County Traffic and Transportation Engineer, supports the change.

Is short-term rental parking regulated separately from other homes in Beaufort County?

No. Section 4.1.360(C)(1)(b) does not set a separate STR parking count; it simply requires STRP tenant parking to comply with Division 5.5, the same off-street parking standards that apply to the underlying dwelling type.

Sources & Official References

[1]Beaufort County Community Development Code § 4.1.360(C)(1)(b)

Other rules in Beaufort County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Short-Term Rental PermitsSignificant Restrictions Repeat Violator StrikesSignificant Restrictions Occupancy LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesSome Restrictions

All Beaufort County rules

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