Folly Beach to Move STR Lawsuit to SC Supreme Court

9/29/2026

Folly Beach, South Carolina, voted 4-3 to support moving a closely watched lawsuit over its short-term rental regulations directly to the state Supreme Court. The dispute began in 2024 when Elizabeth Spratt Cooper and Park Lane Partners challenged the city’s rental-permit limits, which were established through a 2023 voter referendum. In August, Charleston County Circuit Judge Thomas Rode ruled that Folly Beach’s STR registration fee was an unlawful tax. The city has since eliminated the fee, while continuing its appeal. Supporters of transferring the case say it could shorten the process and produce a final ruling sooner. Opponents noted that going directly to the Supreme Court would eliminate another appellate stage. The city’s attorney will consent to the transfer request, but the South Carolina Supreme Court must still agree to hear the case. Under state rules, the court can take cases involving significant public interest or major legal principles.

The Post and Courier (09/23/26) Anna Sharpe