Richland County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Richland County, SC, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Richland County
- Adopted
- April 2024 (Sec. 16-82)
- License
- County business license required
- Register via
- eTRAKiT web portal
- Zoning
- Certain districts only (LDC 2024)
Summary
Yes. Since April 2024, short-term rentals in unincorporated Richland County must obtain a Richland County business license and register the property before renting. STRs are only allowed in certain zoning districts under the Land Development Code effective March 2024.
The owner or responsible local representative offering a property or portion of a property as a short-term rental shall obtain a business license and comply with all business license and revenue collection laws of the Richland County and State of South Carolina.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
Richland County Code Sec. 16-82 requires the owner or responsible local representative offering a property as a short-term rental to obtain a business license and comply with all county and state business-license and revenue laws. The rental must also be registered through the county's eTRAKiT web portal with owner contact and property details. The county's Land Development Code, effective March 1, 2024, only permits short-term rentals in certain zoning designations, so location determines eligibility. Inside Columbia, Forest Acres, Blythewood or other municipalities the city's own STR ordinance governs, not the county's.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required business license and registration violates Sec. 16-82; the county may perform a compliance safety inspection and enforce county ordinances and revenue-collection laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in unincorporated Richland County?
Does this apply inside Columbia city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
How Richland County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Richland County to another location·View the South Carolina short-term rentals overview
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