Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Charleston, SC (2026)

Charleston, SC allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (commercial STR permit) before listing their property. Charleston regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Charleston.

Statewide Preemption

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: commercial STR permit. Registration fee: varies. Annual renewal: annually. Register through the local building department or local planning department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Registration Type

commercial STR permit · Verified June 7, 2026 · Source

Registration Fee

$200

Annual Renewal

$200

Operational Rules

No specific operational rules listed for short-term rentals in Charleston beyond standard property codes.

• •STR license required from City of Charleston Revenue Division
• •Primary residence requirement for certain zones — owner must use property as primary residence and obtain Owner-Occupied STR license
• •Non-primary residence STRs restricted to Commercial STR License zones only (limited areas)
• •Property must pass life safety inspection before license issuance
• •Designated agent required for non-owner-managed STRs — available 24/7 within reasonable distance
• •Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom (4 maximum total in most residential zones)
• •South Carolina state and local hospitality taxes apply
• •STR license number must be displayed on all booking platform listings
• •No new Commercial STR licenses being issued in most historic residential areas as of 2022

Penalties for Violations

Specific penalty amounts for STR violations in Charleston are not listed. Contact the local planning department for enforcement information.

• ⚠$1,000 per day for operating without STR license
• ⚠$500 fine per violation for license condition violations
• ⚠License revocation for safety violations or repeated non-compliance
• ⚠Civil court action for continued illegal STR operation

Frequently Asked Questions