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Charleston vs. Hilton Head Island: short-term-rental rules
Both are in South Carolina, but the rules differ. Hilton Head Island is currently the more permissive of the two for short-term rentals (Allowed with registration), while Charleston is tighter (Restricted).
| Rule | Charleston | Hilton Head Island |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Restricted | Allowed with registration |
| City license / registration | Residential Short Term Rental (STR) Permit — Category 1, 2, or 3; City of Charleston Business License; Fire Inspection and Plan Review; General liability insurance — $1,000,000 per occurrence; One (1) additional off-street parking space; Permit number in all listings; permit displayed on premises; no exterior signs; Current guest register; 15-day on-site public posting of STR application + 5-business-day appeal window; Notarized application with floor plans, site plan, photographs and signed acknowledgment; Commercial Short Term Rental Permit (ST Overlay Zone) — conditional use | Short-Term Rental Permit; Town of Hilton Head Island Business License; Site plan (single-family dwellings); HOA/POA letter of approval; STR permit number displayed in all advertisements; Responsible owner / Short-Term Rental Agent availability and 1-hour response; Permit issued to a natural person (no LLC/entity ownership on permit); In-unit guest disclosures (contact info, noise rules, trash, pool/hot tub safety); Fire and life-safety compliance (extinguishers, interconnected smoke alarms, CO alarms, egress); Monitored fire alarm / fire suppression system for properties 3,600 sq ft or more; Propane grill 60-minute shut-off valve and combustible gas alarm; Certificate of Occupancy; Town Revenue Services accommodations tax account |
| Primary residence | Required | Not required |
| Minimum stay | No set minimum | No set minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~14.0% total | ~10.0% total |
| Enforcement | Active | Active |
For most hosts, Hilton Head Island is the easier of the two to operate in today, but confirm the specifics — rules change, and the "Restricted" status in Charleston may still allow rentals under the right conditions. Open each full record for the cited, dated details.
Full Charleston rules Full Hilton Head Island rules
Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in Charleston or Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island is currently the more permissive (Allowed with registration) versus Charleston (Restricted). Verify against each city's full record, since rules change.
Do both Charleston and Hilton Head Island require a license or registration?
Charleston: yes — Residential Short Term Rental (STR) Permit — Category 1, 2, or 3; City of Charleston Business License; Fire Inspection and Plan Review; General liability insurance — $1,000,000 per occurrence; One (1) additional off-street parking space; Permit number in all listings; permit displayed on premises; no exterior signs; Current guest register; 15-day on-site public posting of STR application + 5-business-day appeal window; Notarized application with floor plans, site plan, photographs and signed acknowledgment; Commercial Short Term Rental Permit (ST Overlay Zone) — conditional use. Hilton Head Island: yes — Short-Term Rental Permit; Town of Hilton Head Island Business License; Site plan (single-family dwellings); HOA/POA letter of approval; STR permit number displayed in all advertisements; Responsible owner / Short-Term Rental Agent availability and 1-hour response; Permit issued to a natural person (no LLC/entity ownership on permit); In-unit guest disclosures (contact info, noise rules, trash, pool/hot tub safety); Fire and life-safety compliance (extinguishers, interconnected smoke alarms, CO alarms, egress); Monitored fire alarm / fire suppression system for properties 3,600 sq ft or more; Propane grill 60-minute shut-off valve and combustible gas alarm; Certificate of Occupancy; Town Revenue Services accommodations tax account.
Which has lower lodging taxes, Charleston or Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island is lower at ~10.0% total. Combined lodging tax stacks state + local rates; see each record for the breakdown and who remits.
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.