Edisto Island, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Edisto Island and the Charleston Lowcountry STR market hit $415 ADR, 60.8% occupancy, $6,780 revenue in September 2026
Quick Answer: Edisto Island, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Charleston market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Charleston market area is $6,780. average daily rate in the Charleston market area is $415. the top operator in the Charleston market area is Vacasa with 440 listings. market score is 75/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Charleston regional market, which includes Edisto Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Edisto Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Edisto Island, South Carolina, using performance data for the Charleston Lowcountry STR market, a shared regional series. Every performance number below refers to the Charleston Lowcountry STR market rather than to Edisto Island alone. In September 2026, that market averaged an ADR of $415 and occupancy of 60.8%, producing average revenue of $6,780 per listing for the month. Versus a year earlier, occupancy rose 6.7%, ADR rose 4.8% and revenue rose 7.9%. The sum of the twelve seasonal monthly revenue figures is $65,548 per year. Edisto Island itself is a quiet beach destination about 45 miles south of Charleston, with a population of 1,613. The island has no high-rise hotels and keeps traffic lights to a minimum. Privately owned vacation rentals, rather than chain hotels, make up most of the lodging, which makes STRs central to the local visitor economy. Visitors come for Edisto Beach State Park, the Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve, ACE Basin eco-tours, kayaking, fishing, shelling and dolphin watching. Peak season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with shoulder demand in spring and fall. Bedroom, channel, listing type and operator counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Edisto Island, so this profile omits them. Over the longer run, average annual occupancy moved from 47.1% in 2017 to 62.5% in 2025, and ADR rose from $261 to $401. Through nine months of 2026, occupancy is 66.2% and ADR is $434, above any full year in the series on both measures.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 57% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 66% |
| May | 66% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 74% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 56% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 44% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Edisto Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Charleston market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Charleston market as a whole, which includes Edisto Island, so these counts are not Edisto Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 440 | 27,869 | ★ 4.57 |
| 2 | Stay Duvet | 368 | 42,749 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | Casago | 291 | 9,129 | ★ 4.56 |
| 4 | Sweetgrass Vacation Rentals | 274 | 9,186 | ★ 4.74 |
| 5 | Akers Ellis Real Estate & Rentals | 268 | 8,693 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Edisto Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Edisto Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 26.6% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 63.4% |
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Edisto Island — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted on Edisto Island, and enforcement is rated moderate, meaning it is routine and license-based rather than aggressive. Jurisdiction matters. The built-up beachfront is the incorporated Town of Edisto Beach in Colleton County, while the larger remainder of the island is unincorporated Charleston County and falls under county rules. Inside town limits, owners need a Town of Edisto Beach rental business license, classified as Class 9.1. The license year runs from May 1 to April 30, renewal payments are due by April 30, and a penalty of 5% per month applies after that. Fees are based on gross receipts rather than a flat amount, and owners with a business address outside ZIP code 29438 pay double the standard fee. A specific fee amount is not published in the profile data. There is no owner occupancy or primary residence requirement, and there is no cap on rental nights per year. Operators must collect and remit a combined 12% tax on stays of 30 days or less. That includes 9% in state level taxes, a 2% Town of Edisto Beach local accommodations tax and a 1% Colleton County local accommodations tax. Zoning in town is broadly open, with rentals allowed across residential and resort districts. Beachfront homes face sea turtle lighting limits from May 1 to October 31. A temporary STR ban during spring 2020 was an emergency measure and has been lifted. Buyers should confirm the exact jurisdiction before purchase.
Market Comparison
September 2026 occupancy in the Charleston Lowcountry STR market was 60.8% and ADR was $415, reflecting beach destination pricing and a mix of larger houses. The weakest seasonal ADR was $239 in January, and the weakest occupancy month was also January at 39.1%. Peak months of June and July ran at 74.5% and 73.9% occupancy. Growth is positive: revenue rose 7.9% versus a year earlier. Edisto Island competes with busier beach markets such as Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach by offering a quiet, undeveloped setting with no high-rise hotels, and its lodging supply is dominated by STRs rather than chain hotels. Operator rosters are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Edisto Island, so this profile omits top operator names. Investors comparing markets should note that regional averages here blend several Charleston area towns, so local performance for a given street or beachfront address can differ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edisto Island, South Carolina
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Do I need a license for a short-term rental on Edisto Island?
What taxes apply to Edisto Island vacation rentals?
When is the best time of year to rent out a home on Edisto Island?
Is owner occupancy required for an Edisto Island short-term rental?
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