Short-Term Rental Laws in Charleston, SC (2026)
Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are legal in Charleston only at the owner's full-time primary residence (verified via the county 4% legal-residence tax exemption): the record owner must live there at least 183 days a year, must sleep on the property overnight while guests are present, and may host no more than 4 adults in a single STR unit per property. Every operator needs an annually renewed Short Term Rental Operational Permit ($345 zoning/application review fee since Jan 1, 2024, plus fire-review and business-license fees) and a city business license, and non-owner-occupied 'whole-house' investment rentals are effectively banned citywide. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Charleston STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Primary residence only |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short Term Rental (STR) Operational Permit (Certificate of Operation), plus City of Charleston business license |
| Permit fee | $345 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | Yes |
| Primary residence only | Yes |
| Max units per owner | 1 |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~14% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | Yes — owner must keep in force at all times the STR is operated a general liability policy, with a company authorized to do business in South Carolina, insuring against personal injury (including death) and property damage with limits of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence (attested in the notarized STR application affidavit). |
| Enforcement | Charleston enforces proactively: a dedicated Livability Division code-enforcement team monitors online listings and investigates complaints (Livability Department 843-805-3226), and the city added enforcement staff and monitoring technology when the ordinance passed. Illegal operators are prosecuted in the city's Livability Court — 2019 news coverage reported the team carried 60-100 cases at a time and described Charleston as the only U.S. city criminally prosecuting illegal STRs. The STR portion of the premises is subject to annual city inspection, and operating or advertising before the Certificate of Operation and business license are issued can result in a Municipal Summons. |
| Current rules effective | 2018-07-10 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Charleston stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Charleston, SC — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Charleston occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| SC State Sales Tax (5%)· usually collected by platform | $22.50 |
| SC State Accommodations Tax (2%)· usually collected by platform | $9.00 |
| Local Option Sales Tax (Charleston County) (1%)· usually collected by platform | $4.50 |
| Charleston County Transportation Tax (1%)· usually collected by platform | $4.50 |
| School District / Education Tax (1%)· usually collected by platform | $4.50 |
| Charleston County Local Accommodations Tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| City of Charleston Local Accommodations Tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| Total tax (14%) | $63.00 |
| Guest pays | $513.00 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Charleston requires Short Term Rental (STR) Operational Permit (Certificate of Operation), plus City of Charleston business license to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $345, renewed annual.
$345 zoning and application review fee effective Jan 1, 2024 (was $200 before 2024), collected at application. Additional fees at issuance: Fire review ($40 application fee + $32.61 plan review + $32.61 inspection) and business license ($64 base + $3.90 per additional $1,000 of expected income). Application requires notarized affidavit, site plan, floor plans, photos, driver's license, and proof of 4% legal-residence exemption; process includes 15-day public posting and 5-business-day appeal period.
Zoning & location rules
Residential STR permits come in three location-based categories: Category 1 (Old and Historic District on the peninsula — building must be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places), Category 2 (rest of the peninsula outside the STR Overlay Zone — principal building must be at least 50 years old), and Category 3 (all off-peninsula areas: West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Cainhoy/Daniel Island). Only one STR unit per property; max 4 adults; off-street parking required (Cat 1/2: one space per rented bedroom in addition to spaces required for the residence; Cat 3: one space per bedroom exempting the first). Commercially zoned properties inside the Cannonborough-Elliotborough Short Term Rental Overlay Zone are instead eligible for a Commercial STR Permit or Bed & Breakfast Permit.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| SC State Sales TaxState-administered; Airbnb/Vrbo collect and remit for platform bookings. Hosts taking direct bookings must register with SC DOR and remit. | 5% | platform |
| SC State Accommodations TaxState-administered; collected by major platforms for platform bookings. | 2% | platform |
| Local Option Sales Tax (Charleston County)State-administered local tax; Airbnb collects local taxes administered by the state. | 1% | platform |
| Charleston County Transportation TaxState-administered local tax remitted to the state. | 1% | platform |
| School District / Education TaxState-administered local tax remitted to the state. | 1% | platform |
| Charleston County Local Accommodations TaxRemitted to Charleston County. Airbnb's SC tax page lists a 2% Charleston County accommodations fee it collects, but the city warns that not all platforms collect local accommodations taxes and the owner remains ultimately responsible. | 2% | varies |
| City of Charleston Local Accommodations TaxAirbnb lists the 2% City of Charleston local accommodations tax among taxes it collects, but the city states not all booking entities remit local accommodations tax on the host's behalf; owner is ultimately responsible. Total lodging tax load for city properties in Charleston County is 14.0% (12.0% for the Berkeley County portion of the city, which lacks the county-level add-ons). | 2% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Charleston enforces proactively: a dedicated Livability Division code-enforcement team monitors online listings and investigates complaints (Livability Department 843-805-3226), and the city added enforcement staff and monitoring technology when the ordinance passed. Illegal operators are prosecuted in the city's Livability Court — 2019 news coverage reported the team carried 60-100 cases at a time and described Charleston as the only U.S. city criminally prosecuting illegal STRs. The STR portion of the premises is subject to annual city inspection, and operating or advertising before the Certificate of Operation and business license are issued can result in a Municipal Summons.
Operating without a permit can bring a Municipal Summons and Livability Court conviction (reported at about $1,087 per violation in 2019 news coverage). Three findings of guilt in Livability Court revoke the STR permit; listing additional units or an ineligible property triggers immediate revocation, and a revoked permit cannot be reestablished for 24 months. Accommodations-tax violations carry penalties of up to $2,000 per seven-day rental period.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Charleston
July 9, 2026
City considering STR ordinance tweaks, including 8-person cap per rental
Charleston is working to fine-tune its short-term rental ordinance; reported proposals include capping total occupancy at eight people per rental (the current rule caps guests at four adults with no stated total-person cap). City leaders describe the changes as clarifications of existing rules. Proposed only — not yet adopted as of 2026-07-10.
Official source →January 1, 2024material
STR application fee increased from $200 to $345
Effective January 1, 2024, the zoning and application review fee for an STR permit application rose to $345 (from $200 for applications submitted before that date), per the city's Applicable Fees page and the 2024 Planning, Preservation & Sustainability fee schedule.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Charleston?
Airbnb is legal in Charleston, SC, only for your primary residence — dedicated investment properties generally cannot be short-term rentals. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Charleston?
Yes. Charleston requires a Short Term Rental (STR) Operational Permit (Certificate of Operation), plus City of Charleston business license to operate a short-term rental, which costs $345 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Charleston short-term rental permit cost?
The Short Term Rental (STR) Operational Permit (Certificate of Operation), plus City of Charleston business license costs $345 (annual renewal). $345 zoning and application review fee effective Jan 1, 2024 (was $200 before 2024), collected at application. Additional fees at issuance: Fire review ($40 application fee + $32.61 plan review + $32.61 inspection) and business license ($64 base + $3.90 per additional $1,000 of expected income). Application requires notarized affidavit, site plan, floor plans, photos, driver's license, and proof of 4% legal-residence exemption; process includes 15-day public posting and 5-business-day appeal period.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Charleston?
Generally no. Charleston limits short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence, which rules out running a dedicated investment property as a short-term rental in most cases. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Charleston?
Hosts in Charleston are subject to: SC State Sales Tax (5%), SC State Accommodations Tax (2%), Local Option Sales Tax (Charleston County) (1%), Charleston County Transportation Tax (1%), School District / Education Tax (1%), Charleston County Local Accommodations Tax (2%), City of Charleston Local Accommodations Tax (2%) — roughly 14% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Charleston?
Operating without a permit can bring a Municipal Summons and Livability Court conviction (reported at about $1,087 per violation in 2019 news coverage). Three findings of guilt in Livability Court revoke the STR permit; listing additional units or an ineligible property triggers immediate revocation, and a revoked permit cannot be reestablished for 24 months. Accommodations-tax violations carry penalties of up to $2,000 per seven-day rental period. Charleston enforces proactively: a dedicated Livability Division code-enforcement team monitors online listings and investigates complaints (Livability Department 843-805-3226), and the city added enforcement staff and monitoring technology when the ordinance passed. Illegal operators are prosecuted in the city's Livability Court — 2019 news coverage reported the team carried 60-100 cases at a time and described Charleston as the only U.S. city criminally prosecuting illegal STRs. The STR portion of the premises is subject to annual city inspection, and operating or advertising before the Certificate of Operation and business license are issued can result in a Municipal Summons.
Charleston's STR rules changed 1 time recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Savannah, GARestricted
- Myrtle Beach, SCRestricted
- Asheville, NCRestricted
- Atlanta, GAPermit required
- Gatlinburg, TNPermit required
Sources
- Short Term Rental Permit Information — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- Applicable Fees (STR) — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- FAQs & Other Info (STR) — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- Accommodations Tax for Short Term Residential Rentals — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- Residential STR Application (rev. 12.07.2023, PDF) — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- Short Term Rental FAQ (PDF) — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- Short Term Rental Categories / Category Criteria — City of Charlestonretrieved July 10, 2026
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in South Carolinaretrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Charleston and a qualified professional before operating.