Georgetown, South Carolina

Short-term rentals under 30 days are legal in the City of Georgetown but require both a Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Permit and a City Business License. Operators (and rental agents, if applicable) must obtain Zoning Administrator approval before a business license is issued, and properties must pass City Building and Fire Department inspections. Permits operate on the city’s business-license cycle (May 1 to April 30) and must be renewed annually.

Fees are approximately $500 for the initial permit on non-owner-occupied properties (or approximately $250 for owner-occupied properties with a homestead exemption or affidavit). Renewal is approximately $250. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap is currently enforced. Occupancy is capped by bedroom count: 1-2 bedrooms allow 4 guests; 3 or more bedrooms allow 2 guests per bedroom; the maximum is 6 bedrooms per parcel. STRs within city limits owe a 7% local accommodations tax on top of the 6% South Carolina state accommodations tax (approximately 13% combined). County-level accommodations (3%) and hospitality (2%) taxes may also apply. Quiet hours run 11pm to 7am, and rental agents must respond to complaints within approximately two hours. As of latest reporting, the City Council had discussed but not finalized a 250-permit cap; the city estimated only 60-100 STRs were operating at the time of that discussion.