Charleston County Short-Term Rental Rules and News.
Charleston County is tightening short-term rental rules in its unincorporated areas, outside city and town limits. Council moved in February to let staff refuse a permit for up to two years to anyone caught renting without one, and has proposed that every space guests sleep in be listed on the permit, with a parking space for each.
Compiled by Fluffy · Updated October 26, 2026
Where things stand
As of October 26, 2026A summary of council decisions and local reporting, not legal advice. Rules change at council meetings, so confirm with the city before acting on a property.
What it means for hosts in Charleston County
Timeline
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Proposal: list every sleeping area, with parking for each
In its latest round of zoning amendments, the county proposed that permit applications list the maximum number of bedrooms and every designated sleeping area, meaning any space used for overnight sleeping. Sleeping there would not be banned, but each area would need its own off-street parking space. The rule would mainly apply to new applications.
Source: Live 5 -
Proposal: tell neighbors about rental permits
The county considered notifying neighbors and community stakeholders when a limited home rental permit is approved and each time it is renewed. These permits currently require no notice. A final vote has not been reported.
Source: Live 5 -
A two-year bar for renting without a permit
Council moved toward a final reading on a change letting the zoning director deny a short-term rental application for up to two years after an enforcement action. New software shows staff the Airbnb and Vrbo listings, and the Post and Courier reported 196 unincorporated properties rented without a permit in 2025.
Sources: Live 5, Post and Courier
Platform changes that also apply in Charleston County
Airbnb and Vrbo change their rules for every listing at once. These are the recent ones that touch the turnover and the cleaning fee.
Fluffy runs turnover cleaning in unincorporated Charleston County to the same 75-point standard it uses in every market, at a flat per-turn rate set after a walkthrough, with a free re-clean if a turn misses the standard.
Rules Change. The Turnover Still Has to Happen.
Turnover cleaning in unincorporated Charleston County at a flat per-turn rate, set after a walkthrough. Tell us about the property and we reply within one business day.
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