Charleston County, SC, Wants to Know Where STR Guests Are Sleeping

9/15/2026

Charleston County, South Carolina, is considering new short-term rental rules that would require owners to disclose all areas where guests may sleep, including spaces that do not legally qualify as bedrooms. Permit applications would have to list the maximum number of bedrooms and identify every designated sleeping area, such as finished rooms over garages that may be used for overnight stays. The proposal would not ban sleeping in these spaces, but owners would have to account for them and demonstrate adequate parking. The county proposes requiring one off-street parking space for each designated sleeping area, in addition to parking already required for the property. Officials say the changes address discrepancies between advertised occupancy and the number of legally recognized bedrooms and are intended to clarify how many guests properties can accommodate and where they will park. The rules would primarily affect new STR applications, while existing permits would generally be reviewed during annual renewals if problems arise. If approved, the county expects to update its STR application within six to eight weeks.

Live 5 WCSC (09/08/26) Elijah Brown