City, South Carolina

Charleston short-term rental laws (2026)

Charleston allows short-term rentals almost only in the owner's own home. Where the home sits decides the rest. The peninsula adds a test on the building itself, and the areas off it do not.[5]

Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified September 14, 2026.

Pastel Rainbow Row houses with palmetto trees under a blue sky in Charleston

Is Airbnb legal in Charleston?

Legal, in your primary residence

In your full-time primary residence at the 4% Legal Residence rate. Commercially zoned properties in the overlay are the exception.

15 official sources · verified September 14, 2026

Photo: Tyrone Sanders on Unsplash

  • PermitRequired · $345 review fee plus other fees
  • Primary residenceRequired
  • Number on listingRequired
  • Night capNone published

Charleston short-term rental permit

Charleston grants short-term rental permits almost only for the home you live in, and sorts them by where that home sits. On the peninsula, the building has to be individually listed on the National Register in the Old and Historic District. Elsewhere on the peninsula, it has to be at least 50 years old. Off the peninsula, in West Ashley or on Daniel Island, there is no age test. In every category, you live in the home at least 183 days a year, at the 4% Legal Residence rate. You sleep on site during stays. The review fee is $345, plus other fees. The one exception is the Short Term Rental Overlay in Cannonborough-Elliotborough, where a commercially zoned investment property can qualify.[5]

Every Charleston rule, sorted by what it asks

Filter by topic. Each line carries the number of its official source, listed at the bottom of the page.

You must

  • Residential: qualify for the County's 4% Legal Residence tax rate[6][5]
  • Put the last 5 digits of your Operational Permit number in the listing[6]
  • Renew every year before the Certificate of Operation expires[6]
  • Residential: own the property and live there at least 183 days a year[6]
  • Category 1: rent only a building individually listed on the National Register[1]
  • Category 2: rent only a building at least 50 years old[2]
  • Provide one extra off-street parking space for the rental[3]
  • Residential: operate it yourself and sleep on site while guests are there[6]
  • Answer the phone 24 hours a day, yourself or through an emergency contact[6][7]
  • Keep a guest register with names, addresses and dates[6]
  • Pass a fire safety inspection, with a self-survey and smoke alarm records[6]
  • Allow City staff to inspect the rental for zoning and fire code compliance[6]
  • Residential: carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability per occurrence[6]
  • Collect accommodations tax, or risk a $500 to $2,000 penalty per 7 days rented[5]

You must not

  • Advertise or operate without a Certificate of Operation and business license[6]
  • Transfer approvals to a new owner[6]
  • Reestablish a revoked permit within 24 months[5]
  • Rent an investment property, unless commercially zoned in the overlay[5]
  • Rent more than one short-term rental unit per property[6]
  • Host more than 4 adults overnight in a residential rental[5]
  • Commercial rentals: exceed 4 unrelated people or 1 family at a time[7]

Not required

  • A yearly night cap[6]
  • Primary residence, for commercially zoned properties in the overlay[5]
  • Sleeping on site, for a commercial permit[7]
  • Collecting state sales and accommodations tax on Airbnb stays up to 89 nights[12]
  • Collecting county and city accommodations tax on Airbnb stays up to 29 nights[12]

Stays of 30 days or more in Charleston

  • Charleston keeps short-term rentals to the home you live in. A stay of 30 consecutive days or more is not a short-term rental under its rules.[8]
  • At that length, a guest can gain tenant rights, and lodging tax and insurance work differently.
Mid-term rentals: what changes at 30 days

What a new permit costs

Zoning fee for applications filed since January 1, 2024, plus Fire Marshal fees

$450.22zoning and fire fees

  • Zoning review$345
  • Fire Marshal application$40
  • Fire plan review$32.61
  • Fire inspection$32.61

A City business license adds a $64 base fee plus $3.90 per additional $1,000 of expected income.[4]

How to apply in Charleston

Official name: Short Term Rental Operational Permit and Certificate of Operation, plus a City business license

  1. 1

    Confirm the three eligibility tests: primary residence at the 4% rate, your Category's requirements and the required parking.[5]

  2. 2

    Send the Short Term Rental Certificate form to the Charleston County Assessor, or get a letter from the Berkeley County Assessor.[6]

  3. 3

    File the notarized application with a site plan, floor plans, exterior photos, your driver's license, a fire self-survey and the zoning fee.[6]

  4. 4

    The property is posted for 15 calendar days during zoning review, followed by a five business day appeal period.[6]

  5. 5

    After Fire Marshal review, schedule the fire safety inspection through your Customer Self Service account.[6]

  6. 6

    Pay the remaining fees to receive the business license and Certificate of Operation. You cannot advertise or rent before then.[6]

Apply on the official site

Five jurisdictions, same questions

The Charleston column comes from the official sources on this page. The other columns show the headline rule from each WonderGuest page. Open a page for the full detail.

Short-term rental rules in Charleston compared with other jurisdictions
QuestionCharlestonKiawah IslandNorth Myrtle BeachFolly BeachHilton Head Island
PermitRequired$345 review fee plus other feesRequired$200RequiredRequired$245Required$150
Primary residenceRequiredNot publishedNot publishedVariesNot published
Night capNone publishedNone published, 14 days a year or less is exemptNone published72 nights a year on an owner-occupied licenseNone published
Number on listingRequiredRequiredNot publishedRequiredRequired
Occupancy tax14.0% combined in Charleston County13%12%14%10%
Kiawah Island short-term rental rulesNorth Myrtle Beach short-term rental rulesFolly Beach short-term rental rulesHilton Head Island short-term rental rules

Keep exploring

Coming up

What's changing

No change with an effective date appears in the official sources on this page as of September 14, 2026.

FAQ

Charleston short-term rental questions

Can you have an Airbnb in Charleston, SC?

Yes, in a limited form. The property must be your full-time primary residence with the County's 4% Legal Residence exemption. The exception is a property commercially zoned in the Short Term Rental Overlay.[5]

Do I have to be home while guests stay in my Charleston rental?

For a residential permit, yes. You swear that you live at the property at least 183 days a year and sleep there while guests are present.[6]

How do I show my Charleston permit number on Airbnb or Vrbo?

Take the Operational Permit number from your Certificate of Operation and put its last 5 digits in the listing description. The City advises against the full number, which some platforms block.[6]

Will hosting affect my 4% property tax rate in Charleston?

It can. You must report short-term rental use to the Assessor in writing within 6 months. That use may cost you all or part of the 4% Legal Residence exemption.[6]

Does South Carolina tax short-term rentals?

Yes. The South Carolina Department of Revenue applies its 2% accommodations tax and its sales tax to rooms rented for less than 90 consecutive days. Many counties and cities add local accommodations taxes that the state does not administer.[11]
Read nextHow to start an AirbnbThe six steps in order, starting with the permit check.Read the guide

Sources

  1. Short term rental Category 1, City of Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  2. Short term rental Category 2, City of Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  3. Short term rental Category 3, City of Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  4. Short term rental applicable fees, City of Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  5. Short term rentals FAQ (August 31, 2021), City of Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  6. Residential short term rental application (December 7, 2023), City of Charleston Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability, read on September 14, 2026
  7. Commercial short term rental application (December 7, 2023), City of Charleston Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability, read on September 14, 2026
  8. Accommodations tax for short term rentals, City of Charleston Revenue Collections, read on September 14, 2026
  9. Short term rental enforcement, City of Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  10. Planning Commission agenda packet, July 15, 2026, City of Charleston Planning Commission, read on September 14, 2026
  11. Accommodations tax, South Carolina Department of Revenue, read on September 14, 2026
  12. Occupancy tax collection and remittance in South Carolina, Airbnb Help Center, read on September 14, 2026
  13. Extended Home Rental permit application packet (July 2026), Charleston County Zoning and Planning Department, read on September 14, 2026
  14. Short term rentals permit, City of North Charleston, read on September 14, 2026
  15. Short-term rentals, Town of Mount Pleasant, read on September 14, 2026

This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on September 14, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.

Before you list

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