York County, SC Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- dwelling must be owner's primary residence
- Proof required from
- York County Assessor's office
- Governing section
- § 155.552(B)(2)
- Applies to
- dwelling and accessory dwelling units
- Non-owner-occupied rentals
- not eligible for STR permit
Summary
York County only permits short-term rentals in a dwelling that serves as the owner's primary residence, under § 155.552(B)(2). Applicants must submit written documentation from the York County Assessor's office proving primary-residence status as part of the permit application, which effectively bars non-owner-occupied investment properties from short-term rental use in the unincorporated county.
(2) The application shall include written documentation from the York County Assessor's office that the dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit serves as the lot owner's primary residence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-49: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 3925, passed 6-16-25).
Full Breakdown
552(B) has two parts. ' Because the York County Assessor's office maintains the legal residence and homestead exemption records for every parcel in the county, that office's confirmation becomes the gatekeeping document for short-term rental eligibility. An investor who owns a second home or a rental property that is not the owner's primary residence cannot produce this documentation and therefore cannot obtain a valid short-term rental permit under this subpart. The primary-residence rule applies to both principal dwelling units and accessory dwelling units used as short-term rentals, meaning an owner could rent out either the main house or a qualifying accessory unit on the same lot, so long as one of the structures remains the owner's actual primary residence.
552(C), so a change in residency status, such as the owner moving out and reclassifying the home as a rental investment, would need to be reflected at the next renewal cycle or the permit is no longer valid.
Violations & Fines
Obtaining or keeping a short-term rental permit without qualifying primary-residence documentation, or continuing to operate after residency status changes, is a zoning violation under § 155.9999, prosecuted as a misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per day. The Planning and Development Services Department can also deny or decline to renew a permit under § 155.552(C) if the owner cannot furnish current Assessor's office documentation confirming primary residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I short-term rent a house I own but don't live in?
What proof does the county accept for the primary residence requirement?
Does the primary residence rule apply to a guest house or accessory unit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
Compare York County to another location·View the South Carolina short-term rentals overview
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