Pawleys Island, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Pawleys Island area STR posted a $390 ADR, 52.2% occupancy and $5,219 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Pawleys Island, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is 52%. average monthly revenue in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is $5,219. average daily rate in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is $390. the top operator in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is The Litchfield Company with 403 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Pawleys Island/Georgetown regional market, which includes Pawleys Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Pawleys Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This page covers the Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet area STR market on South Carolina’s coast. Performance figures below describe that two-town area as a whole rather than Pawleys Island alone. Pawleys Island is a small barrier-island beach town on the Hammock Coast in Georgetown County, about 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach. The incorporated town has roughly 130 year-round residents, and the wider Waccamaw Neck area has about 16,200 people. The local economy leans on Airbnb and Vrbo rentals rather than hotels.
For September 2026, the average daily rate was $390 and occupancy was 52.2%. Average monthly revenue per listing came to $5,219. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 8.6%, ADR is up 11.6%, and revenue is up 13.2%, so growth is coming from both rate and bookings. Over the first nine months of 2026, occupancy averaged 54.8% with an ADR of $378 and monthly revenue of $5,407, compared with 51.7% occupancy, a $338 ADR and $4,587 in monthly revenue for full-year 2025.
The long-run trend is also worth noting. Annual ADR in the area rose from $232 in 2017 to $338 in 2024 and 2025, while occupancy peaked at 60.3% in 2022 and settled near 51% to 52% in 2024 and 2025 before turning upward in 2026.
Bedroom, booking-channel and listing-type counts, along with top operator names, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Pawleys Island, so this profile omits them. Georgetown County reported a record $3.6M in accommodations tax collections from June 2024 through May 2025, up 7.4% year over year, which points to steady visitor demand behind these numbers. The town was named South Carolina’s Best Beach by USA Today and 10Best in 2024 and 2025, and visitors often return year after year for a quieter alternative to Myrtle Beach.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 29% |
| Feb | 51% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 57% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 73% |
| Jul | 76% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 34% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Pawleys Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market as a whole, which includes Pawleys Island, so these counts are not Pawleys Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Litchfield Company | 403 | 1,924 | ★ 4.34 |
| 2 | Tidelife Vacation Rentals | 196 | 3,965 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | DeBordieu Rentals | 145 | 1,811 | ★ 4.51 |
| 4 | Dune Beach Home Rentals | 142 | 326 | ★ 4.58 |
| 5 | The Dieter Company Vacation Rentals | 112 | 323 | ★ 4.76 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Pawleys Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Pawleys 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 | 15.7% |
| vrbo | 26.5% |
| both | 57.8% |
Home Value Trends (Pawleys Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Pawleys Island 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 Pawleys 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 in Pawleys Island, and enforcement is rated minimal. The town has no STR permit requirement, no cap on rental nights, no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. Vacation rentals are a long-established use on the island, which is largely residential with a few grandfathered inns and one 1970s condo complex.
The Town of Pawleys Island tightly restricts commercial development to preserve its historic, low-key character. Investors should confirm current zoning details directly with Town Hall at 843-237-1698.
Taxes are the main compliance item. Operators must register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and collect lodging taxes. That includes roughly 7% in state tax (6% sales plus 1% state accommodations) and a 3% local accommodations tax administered by Georgetown County, for a combined lodging tax of about 10%. Stays of 30 or more continuous days by the same guest are exempt as non-transient.
The town does not currently impose a municipal business license, and it was the only nearby coastal town without one. As of recent reporting, the town was studying whether to adopt its first business license, which could add a future licensing requirement or fee for rental operators. The only past STR restriction was a temporary COVID-19 emergency ordinance (Ordinance 2020-02) that banned check-ins from March 28 to mid-May 2020, and it has expired. No new bans, caps or owner-occupancy rules have been enacted. Verify current requirements with Town Hall and Georgetown County Finance before buying.
Market Comparison
The Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet area presents a high-rate, moderate-occupancy profile, with September 2026 occupancy of 52.2% and an ADR of $390.
The pattern matters for investors. Rate, not occupancy, drives revenue here. Full-year 2026 so far shows 54.8% occupancy with an ADR of $378. The professionally managed tier at $467 and the luxury tier at $670 sit well above the all-listings ADR, so the area supports premium positioning.
Growth is also strong. Year-over-year revenue growth of 13.2%, backed by 8.6% higher occupancy and 11.6% higher ADR, shows the market gaining ground after occupancy eased from 60.3% in 2022 to about 51% in 2024 and 2025.
Compared with nearby Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island is a quieter and less commercial destination, with development deliberately restricted. That limits new supply and supports rates. Top operator names and counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Pawleys Island, so this profile omits them. Investors should compare any specific property against the area figures here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pawleys Island, South Carolina
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Are short-term rentals legal in Pawleys Island, SC?
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