Lexington County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Lexington County, SC, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 131.40, Appendix B Article 13
- Effective date
- January 1, 2025
- Permit term
- Annual, per individual rental location
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated Lexington County only
- Minimum stay
- Two consecutive nights minimum
- Renewal trigger
- Any change of ownership or management
Summary
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Lexington County must hold an annual zoning permit under Zoning Ordinance § 131.40, effective January 1, 2025. The permit issues per individual property, requires a County Council-set fee paid before issuance, and must be renewed for any change of ownership, management, or rental parameters.
It shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner or registered agent to establish and operate short-term rentals in accordance with the regulations as set forth in this Article. The zoning permit shall be issued for each individual location on the basis of compliance with all applicable regulations on an annual basis. A fee established by County Council shall be applied for every permit and paid prior to the issuance of the permit. A new permit is required for any change of ownership, management, and/or parameters of previously approved short-term rentals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Lexington County created its short-term rental permitting program in Zoning Ordinance Appendix B, Article 13, adopted by Ord. No. 23-17 on June 25, 2024 and effective January 1, 2025. 40, the property owner or registered agent bears sole responsibility for establishing and operating a short-term rental, and the zoning permit issues for each individual location on an annual basis, contingent on compliance with the Article's operational standards. A fee set by County Council must be paid before the permit is issued, and a new permit is required whenever ownership, management, or the parameters of a previously approved rental change.
10 limits the program to property within unincorporated Lexington County; the incorporated Town of Lexington and other municipalities inside the county administer their own rules. b). 30 sets a compliance timeline: 72 hours to submit an abatement plan after written notice, then 10 more days to reach compliance, and a second violation within 365 days triggers automatic revocation.
Violations & Fines
Advertising or operating without a Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit violates Section 132.10(a) and, under Section 174.10, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to the Magistrate's Court's maximum, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The Zoning Administrator can revoke the permit under Section 132.20, barring re-rental until a Board of Zoning Appeals Special Exception Review restores it, and repeat owners risk having future permits refused entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to rent my Lexington County home short-term?
Does the Lexington County permit apply inside the Town of Lexington?
What happens if I rent without the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington County
How Lexington County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Lexington County to another location·View the South Carolina short-term rentals overview
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