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.
Every Grand Strand short-term rental needs a local business license. Unincorporated Horry County allows STRs broadly as a residential use, but the City of Myrtle Beach prohibits them in most traditional residential ("R") zones, permitting them only where zoning specifically allows.
There is no single countywide STR permit. In unincorporated Horry County (Socastee, Carolina Forest, Garden City), STRs operate as a residential use and need only a Horry County business license plus hospitality-fee registration. Each incorporated city sets its own rule. Myrtle Beach is the strictest: short-term rentals (under 90 days) are barred from most 'R' residential districts and allowed only in zones that list them (e.g. RMV, mixed-use and commercial). Fewer than 30 legacy houses in traditional residential zones are grandfathered. North Myrtle Beach currently allows STRs in residential zones with a business license. Always confirm the parcel's zoning and city before booking guests.
Myrtle Beach: 'Violations of the zoning code and the business license ordinance are misdemeanors, with fines of up to $500 and/or 30 days upon conviction.'
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