Rental Rules by City / South Carolina / Charleston
Charleston short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Only in some areas
- Do I need a permit?
- Yes. You need a city STR permit and a business license, and it must be your main home.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 14%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Make sure it's your primary residence.
- Get the city STR permit and business license.
- Put your license number in the unit and all ads.
⚠️ Biggest risk: Missing local taxes some platforms don't collect.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: SC state sales tax 5% + SC state accommodations tax 2% + Local option sales tax 1% + County transportation tax 1% + School district/education tax 1% + Charleston County accommodations tax 2% + City of Charleston accommodations tax 2% = 14%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. City table: 14% total in Charleston County; 12% for city properties in Berkeley County (no county accommodations tax). Collection rules depend on primary (4%) vs secondary (6%) residence and days rented: verify.
What Airbnb collects: Per the City, some platforms collect only state accommodations tax and not the local taxes; confirm and remit any local tax yourself.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| Primary residence | Residential STRs (under 30 days) are allowed only in the owner's primary residence (4% assessment), with both a City STR permit and a business license. |
|---|---|
| Categories | Category 1: Old & Historic District (building must be individually on the National Register). Category 2: rest of the peninsula (building 50+ years old). Category 3: off-peninsula. Each allows 1 STR unit per property and 1 extra off-street parking space. Commercial STR / B&B permits only in the STR Overlay Zone. |
| Renewals | STR permits renew annually by original issue date; business license renews by Feb 1. License number must appear in the unit and in all ads. |
| Penalties | State law allows civil penalties of $500 to $2,000 for each 7 days rented without collecting accommodations tax. |
Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.
Sources
Free tools
Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator
Rules can change
Charleston's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.
Want it done for you?
Get a personalized STR Compliance Check ($49) for your exact address in any US city: the permits, registrations and tax accounts you need, with official sources, delivered by email in 48 business hours. Not legal advice.
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Stay Compliant: $4.99/month
Rules, tax rates and Airbnb/Vrbo policies can change without warning, and hosts who miss a change can be fined. Get alerts when your city, county or state changes, deadline reminders, a pending-bill watch list and a monthly host brief (even in quiet months: "we checked on [date]; no changes"). Compare plans.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy.
Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.