Charleston restricts residential-zone short-term rentals to owner-occupied primary residences claiming the four-percent legal residence assessment ratio, blocking investor-owned vacation homes from operating outside designated commercial categories.
The Old and Historic District and other residential zones permit only Category 1 STRs, which by ordinance must be the owner's primary residence. South Carolina's four-percent legal residence assessment ratio (versus six-percent for non-owner-occupied) is the operational test: applicants must show the Charleston County Assessor has classified the property as legal residence. Investor LLCs, second homes, and family trusts that do not qualify for the four-percent ratio cannot obtain Cat 1 permits. The rule was a centerpiece of Ord. 2018-141, deliberately designed to preserve neighborhood character and resident housing stock.
Operating a non-primary residence as a Cat 1 STR results in permit denial or revocation, civil fines up to $1,087 per night, and referral to the SC Department of Revenue.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Charleston, SC
Charleston does not regulate residential lawn ornaments such as statues, garden gnomes, flamingos, religious displays, or holiday figures on private property...
Charleston, SC
Charleston's sign provisions in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 54) prohibit commercial inflatable advertising devices, balloons, and similar wind-driven attenti...
Charleston, SC
Charleston does not impose general municipal time limits on residential holiday lights, and the Zoning Ordinance sign provisions exempt non-commercial reside...
Charleston, SC
Outdoor kitchens with permanent gas lines, water/sewer connections, electrical wiring, or roofed structures require permits in Charleston. A covered or walle...
Charleston, SC
Charcoal, wood, and pellet smokers are treated as open-flame cooking devices under the 2021 IFC adopted by South Carolina. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits thei...
Charleston, SC
Charleston follows the 2021 International Fire Code as adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking...
See how Charleston's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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