North Charleston, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
North Charleston, SC STRs averaged $549/night at 78.7% occupancy in June 2026, though citywide permit caps now freeze new licenses in 3 of 10 districts.
Quick Answer: North Charleston, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 79%. average monthly revenue is $11,567. average daily rate is $549. the top operator is Vacasa with 440 listings. market score is 75/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Charleston regional market, which includes North Charleston. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to North Charleston.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
North Charleston’s short-term rental market, part of the greater Charleston, SC tourism region, comprises roughly 11,850 active listings: 3,153 Airbnb-only, 1,187 Vrbo-only, and 7,510 listed on both platforms. In June 2026, the average daily rate was $548.90 with 78.7% occupancy, up 0.56 percentage points year over year. ADR fell 3.14% year over year, yet average monthly revenue of $11,567 rose 3.85%, pointing to occupancy and booking-mix gains offsetting the softer rate. Listing type mix is overwhelmingly entire-place: 11,253 entire-place listings versus 596 private-room and 1 shared-room listing. Bedroom mix is led by 3-bedroom units (3,253 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (2,761), 1-bedroom (2,652), 4-bedroom (1,898), and 5-plus bedroom (1,283). Property type drives a wide revenue spread: houses average $13,008/month, well above entire-place listings at $11,937/month and apartments at $8,829/month, a roughly 47% gap between houses and apartments. Market-score data shows very strong rental demand (91.2/100) and high investability (85.4/100), but a moderate seasonality score of 50.4. The greater Charleston region drew a record 7.89 million visitors in 2024, generating $14.03 billion in economic impact; no separate visitor count is published for North Charleston alone, though the city captures a large share of overnight demand as home to Charleston International Airport and the North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $239 | $2,725 |
| Feb | 57% | $261 | $3,435 |
| Mar | 68% | $321 | $5,488 |
| Apr | 66% | $365 | $6,278 |
| May | 66% | $394 | $6,939 |
| Jun | 75% | $438 | $8,489 |
| Jul | 73% | $403 | $7,747 |
| Aug | 62% | $382 | $6,444 |
| Sep | 56% | $329 | $4,927 |
| Oct | 59% | $315 | $5,064 |
| Nov | 49% | $291 | $3,798 |
| Dec | 44% | $281 | $3,431 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North Charleston
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 North Charleston?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,652 |
| 2 bed | 2,761 |
| 3 bed | 3,253 |
| 4 bed | 1,898 |
| 5 bed | 1,283 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $565 |
| Luxury | $917 |
| Professionally Managed | $703 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $8,829 |
| Entire Place | $11,937 |
| House | $13,008 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 26.6% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 63.4% |
Investment Analysis
Tiered ADR data shows the market-wide average of $548.90/night rising to $565.25 for entire-home listings, $702.83 for professionally-managed listings (about 28% above average), and $916.60 for the luxury tier (about 67% above average). Revenue grew 3.85% year over year even as ADR fell 3.14%, with the modest occupancy gain (0.56 points) and likely booking-mix shifts driving the increase. At $11,567/month in average revenue ($138,799 annualized) against a typical home value of $313,219, that computes to a gross STR revenue yield of about 44.3% before expenses, permits, taxes, and management, the highest yield figure among the markets processed in this batch, driven by North Charleston’s combination of strong Charleston-area ADR and comparatively low typical home values. On the buy side, the median sale price is $318,717 against a $337,833 median list price (a sale-to-list ratio of 0.943), with 529 homes for sale, a reasonably liquid market. The critical constraint for new investors is regulatory, not economic: North Charleston capped STR permits at 60 per City Council district (600 citywide) via an ordinance passed February 27, 2025, and three districts (5, 8, and 10, including the popular Park Circle area) already exceed that cap and are not issuing new permits until counts fall below 60, though existing permits in good standing continue to renew. That constraint is reflected in the market’s regulation score of 67.0 out of 100, and investors targeting North Charleston should confirm district-level permit availability before purchasing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
North Charleston’s average booking lead time is 83.4 days, nearly three months, consistent with travelers planning Charleston-area vacations well in advance. The average length of stay is 4.69 nights, a week-adjacent trip typical of a Charleston-region vacation. That long lead time gives operators strong advance-booking pricing visibility, letting hosts raise rates as summer dates fill in. A roughly 4.7-night average stay keeps turnover moderate relative to short weekend-trip markets, helping spread cleaning and restocking costs across a longer booking window and supporting per-booking profitability.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
North Charleston requires a Short Term Rental Permit plus a separate annual business license to legally operate an STR (stays of 29 consecutive days or fewer). The initial permit application fee is $350; annual renewal is $250, due by February 28, with the business license renewed by April 30. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, but the city adopted a hard cap of 60 STR permits per City Council district (600 citywide) via an ordinance passed February 27, 2025. Three districts, 5, 8, and 10 (which includes the popular Park Circle area; District 10 had about 216 permits and District 8 about 185), already exceed the cap, so no new permits are being issued there until counts drop below 60; existing permits in good standing may still renew. Room rentals within owner-occupied homes are exempt from the caps. Operators must cap occupancy at 2 persons per bedroom (8 maximum), provide one off-street parking space per 2 bedrooms (maximum 4), designate a local contact reachable within 30 minutes, obtain HOA/POA approval, stay current on taxes, and avoid hosting events like weddings or parties. The city’s occupancy tax is 2%. Enforcement is rated strict. (Regulatory data current as of July 1, 2026.)
Market Comparison
North Charleston’s June 2026 occupancy of 78.7% runs well above the roughly 55% national STR occupancy benchmark, and its ADR of $548.90 sits well above the roughly $220 national median ADR benchmark, reflecting strong demand tied to the broader Charleston region’s record 7.89 million 2024 visitors. Among property managers active in the market, Vacasa leads with 440 listings and 27,869 reviews (4.57 average rating), followed by Stay Duvet (368 listings, 42,749 reviews, 4.84 rating) and Casago (291 listings, 9,129 reviews, 4.56 rating). Combined, the top three managers operate about 1,099 listings, roughly 9.3% of the market’s 11,850 total active listings, a moderately consolidated segment within a market that is still majority independent hosts, notable given the city’s permit-cap structure that favors operators with permits already in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Charleston, South Carolina
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in North Charleston, SC?
How much does a North Charleston Airbnb earn per month?
What is the average daily rate for Airbnb listings in North Charleston?
Is there a cap on short-term rental permits in North Charleston?
What does a North Charleston STR permit cost?
When is the best time to book or list a North Charleston Airbnb?
Who are the largest STR property managers in North Charleston, SC?
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