North Charleston, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
North Charleston caps STR permits; the Charleston area earned $415 ADR, 60.8% occupancy, $6,780 monthly in September 2026.
Quick Answer: North Charleston, 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 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 is a city of 126,015 residents inside the greater Charleston tourism market, which drew a record 7.89 million visitors in 2024. This profile uses data for the Charleston area STR market through September 2026, the latest month available. The performance figures below describe the Charleston area as a whole and are not a North Charleston only measurement. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top-operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for North Charleston, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the Charleston area STR market posted an average daily rate of $415 and occupancy of 60.8%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $6,780. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 6.7%, ADR rose 4.8% and revenue rose 7.9%. Entire-place stays earned an ADR of $429 and monthly revenue of $6,989, houses averaged $7,377 per month and apartments averaged $5,720.
The longer record shows steady growth. Average monthly revenue grew from $3,312 in 2017 to $7,037 in 2025, and the first nine months of 2026 average $7,903 per month with 66.2% occupancy and a $434 ADR. Annual occupancy peaked at 64.6% in 2021, eased to 61.2% in 2024 and recovered to 62.5% in 2025, while ADR climbed from $300 in 2021 to $401 in 2025.
Demand in North Charleston itself comes from event and concert attendees at the 13,000-seat Coliseum, convention and business travelers, outlet shoppers and leisure visitors who use more affordable lodging as a base for historic downtown Charleston and area beaches. Investors should read the regulation section before underwriting, because new permits are frozen in three council districts, including Park Circle, the city’s densest rental area.
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 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 allows short-term rentals but limits who can enter the market. Operators need a Short Term Rental permit plus a separate business license. The initial permit application fee is $350, annual renewal is $250 and is due by February 28, and the business license renews by April 30. Rentals of 29 consecutive days or fewer fall under these rules.
The key restriction is a cap approved by City Council on February 27, 2025: no more than 60 permits per council district, or 600 citywide. Districts 5, 8 and 10, which include Park Circle, are already over the cap, so no new permits are issued there until counts fall below 60. Existing permits in good standing can still renew each year. Room rentals in owner-occupied dwellings are exempt from the caps. Only legally established dwelling units qualify, which excludes RVs.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Operational rules include a limit of 2 guests per bedroom with 8 as the maximum, 1 off-street parking space per 2 bedrooms (up to 4 spaces), a local contact who can respond within 30 minutes, HOA or POA approval where applicable, and no events such as weddings or parties.
Enforcement is rated strict. A fourth Notice of Violation for zoning, noise or refuse issues within a year voids all STR permitting and licensing. Guests pay a 2% municipal accommodations fee, in addition to county and state lodging taxes.
These rules apply to the City of North Charleston only. Neighboring towns have their own rules, so confirm the current requirements with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
September 2026 occupancy in the Charleston area STR market was 60.8% and the ADR was $415, up 6.7% and 4.8% from a year earlier.
Rate holds up through the year. Even the weakest months hold a solid rate: January averages $239 and December $281, against $438 in June. On occupancy, the picture is more seasonal. June (74.5%), July (73.9%), March (68.0%), April (66.3%) and May (66.3%) all run above 65%, while January (39.1%), December (44.3%) and November (48.8%) fall below 50%.
Within the market, North Charleston is positioned as a more affordable base than downtown Charleston, with direct access to the airport, the Coliseum, the convention center and Tanger Outlets. The trade-off is regulatory: new permits are frozen in districts 5, 8 and 10.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and the names of top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for North Charleston, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Charleston, South Carolina
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