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The Coastal SC STR Rules Data Pack: every rule on this site as a spreadsheet (CSV and Excel) with source links, a renewal deadline calendar (.ics) with reminders, and a 1-page quick start. $19.
Get the data packChange pending or in fluxLast verified 2026-10-25
Owner must live on site for residential STRs; a bedroom-based guest limit and a $1M insurance rule are up for a City Council public hearing on Oct 27, 2026.
Not legal advice. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, last checked 2026-10-25. Rules change, and some items are pending. Always verify with the municipality or county before you buy, list, or renew. Each fact links to its official source.
| Topic | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Allowed and where | Residential STRs only in the owner's primary residence (4% legal residence assessment). Three category areas: Category 1 is the Old and Historic District (building individually listed on the National Register); Category 2 is the peninsula outside the overlay (building at least 50 years old); Category 3 is off-peninsula (West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Cainhoy, Daniel Island). In the STR Overlay (Cannonborough-Elliotborough) a Commercial STR permit applies on commercial zoning and a Bed and Breakfast permit on residential zoning. Source: www.charleston-sc.gov | www.charleston-sc.gov |
| Permit or license | City STR permit (Residential STR, Commercial STR in the overlay, or Bed and Breakfast) plus a City business license. Permit number must appear on every ad. Source: www.charleston-sc.gov | www.charleston-sc.gov |
| Fees | $200 zoning and application review; fire inspection $40 base plus $32.21 plan review plus $32.61 per floor; business license $64 base plus $3.90 per additional $1,000 of gross receipts. Source: www.charleston-sc.gov | www.charleston-sc.gov |
| Caps or wait list | No citywide number cap found in official sources. Residential STRs (Categories 1, 2 and 3): the property may not contain more than 1 STR unit (City STR category criteria). The City page states no per-property unit limit for Commercial STR or Bed and Breakfast permits in the overlay. Source: www.charleston-sc.gov | www.charleston-sc.gov |
| Owner-occupancy | Required for Residential STR: the unit must be the owner's primary residence with the 4% assessment, and the operator must be generally available. A pending amendment would require the owner to reside overnight while guests are present. Source: www.charleston-sc.gov | charleston-sc.gov |
| Occupancy limit | Current: up to 4 adults overnight. Pending: a Fire Marshal bedroom-based limit with a maximum of 8 guests per unit. Source: www.charleston-sc.gov | charleston-sc.gov |
| Parking | 1 off-street space in addition to the 2 required per dwelling (3 total for a single-family home). Source: www.charleston-sc.gov |
| Taxes on stays | 14% total (Charleston County part): state sales 5%, state accommodations 2%, local option 1%, county transportation 1%, school 1% (remitted to SCDOR); Charleston County accommodations 2% and City accommodations 2% (remitted to Charleston County). Failure to collect accommodations tax carries a civil penalty of $500 to $2,000 per 7 days rented. |
| Registration and renewal | Permit renews annually by its original issuance date; business license renews by Apr 30 (fee due May 1, payable through May 31). SCDOR sales and accommodations registration plus a Charleston County accommodations account. Gross receipts for license and tax filings. The $19 Airbnb Host Tracker totals your gross rental income by month, for each property or all properties together: rent, cleaning and other guest fees from Airbnb, Vrbo and direct stays, before platform fees. Stays are counted in the month they check in. Take a look |
| Recent changes (dated) | Jul 10, 2018: STR ordinance took effect (adopted Apr 10, 2018). Oct 21, 2026: Planning Commission agenda item to amend Secs. 54-208 and 54-227 (bedroom-based limit, max 8 guests, 4-bedroom cap on new conversions, one unit per ad, automatic suspension on a 3rd violation in 1 year, $1M liability insurance, owner overnight residency, grandfathering for overlay units over 4 bedrooms). Oct 27, 2026: City Council public hearing scheduled (agenda item E-2). Status on Oct 25, 2026: pending, not adopted. |
Printable checklist. City of Charleston short-term rental host checklist: the rules above as step by step boxes to tick, with sources.
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The Coastal SC STR Rules Data Pack: every rule on this site as a spreadsheet (CSV and Excel) with source links, a renewal deadline calendar (.ics) with reminders, and a 1-page quick start. $19.
Get the data packPick your area and the permit type, renewal rule, tax stack and official link fill in. Type your expiry dates and each renewal turns red at 30 days or less, gold at 31 to 60. A Tax Filing Log and a Renewal Calendar with 17 published deadlines. Excel, works in Google Sheets.
Get the trackerThree tools in one download: the $19 Rules Data Pack, the $24 Permit and Renewal Tracker and the $39 ListingLift Full Report Kit, an offline tool that turns your own listing into a printable fix list. $33 less than buying all three.
Get the bundleIncome tracker, turnover schedule, house rules and Wi-Fi signs in one download.
Get itTurnaround windows, cleaner status and pay, and a supplies reorder list.
Get itGet a free score out of 100 and your top 3 fixes in under a minute with ListingLift by Keel & Charter. Want the full report? The $39 ListingLift Full Report Kit is an instant download that builds title options, an amenity gap list, a house rules check and a 30-day plan. Get it with the Rules Data Pack and the Permit and Renewal Tracker in the $49 Coastal SC Host Bundle.
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