Horry County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Horry County, SC, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- County registration
- Business license + hospitality account
- Filing form
- Accommodations Reporting Form
- Return due date
- 20th of following month
- First-time commercial space
- Zoning Compliance approval needed
- County contact
- (843) 915-5620, BLHospitality
Summary
Before renting, unincorporated-county hosts register with Horry County's Business License office (BLHospitality@horrycountysc.gov) and open a Hospitality Fee / Local Accommodations Tax account. Returns are filed on the county's monthly Accommodations Reporting Form, due the 20th of the month after each reporting period.
Accommodations MONTHLY Reporting Form — Due on the 20th of the month following Reporting period end. Use this form to report all rentals you have both inside and outside the city limits.
Full Breakdown
Horry County processes business-license applications for STRs 'located or operating within the unincorporated areas of Horry County.' A first-time business in a commercial building also needs Zoning Compliance approval from Planning & Zoning. Once licensed, the host must file the county's Hospitality Fee / Local Accommodations Tax 'Accommodations Reporting Form' reporting gross transient-rental proceeds inside and outside city limits. Payments go to the Horry County Treasurer (PO Box 1275, Conway). Cities within the county (Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Conway) run separate license and reporting systems, so a rental inside a city registers with that city too. Contact: Business License Hospitality, (843) 915-5620.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required business license, or filing late, triggers a delinquency penalty added to fees due (see the county's Hospitality Fee penalty schedule). Unlicensed operation is a county code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I register a Horry County STR?
How often do I file?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Horry County
How Horry County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina short-term rentals overview
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