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 in the Charleston market area is 79%. average monthly revenue in the Charleston market area is $11,567. average daily rate in the Charleston market area is $549. 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 North Charleston. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to North Charleston.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 57% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 66% |
| May | 66% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 73% |
| Aug | 62% |
| Sep | 56% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 44% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for North Charleston 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 North Charleston, so these counts are not North Charleston-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 North Charleston?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for North Charleston 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% |
Home Value Trends (North Charleston)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for North Charleston are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for North Charleston — 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
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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