Saint Helena Island, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Saint Helena Island rentals need special use approval, with $352 ADR, 48.7% occupancy and $4,339 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Saint Helena Island, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Hilton Head market area is 49%. average monthly revenue in the Hilton Head market area is $4,339. average daily rate in the Hilton Head market area is $352. the top operator in the Hilton Head market area is Vacasa with 710 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Hilton Head regional market, which includes Saint Helena Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saint Helena Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Short-term rental performance for Saint Helena Island is reported at a shared regional level. The metrics cover the Beaufort County Lowcountry STR market, which groups Saint Helena Island with Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Daufuskie Island, all in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Every performance number on this page describes that regional market rather than Saint Helena Island alone.
In September 2026 the Beaufort County Lowcountry STR market averaged a daily rate of $352 and occupancy of 48.7%, with average monthly revenue per listing of $4,339. Entire-place rentals averaged $353 per night and $4,355 per month, while houses reached $5,291 per month and apartments $3,357.
Year over year, occupancy rose 7.8% and ADR rose 5.0%, while average monthly revenue was down 3.7% from September 2025. Those are the figures as reported, and investors should check month by month results rather than assume the direction of annual income from any single reading.
The longer history shows steady growth. Average monthly revenue rose from $2,590 in 2017 to $5,613 in 2025, and ADR rose from $235 to $371 over the same stretch. Occupancy peaked at 65.2% in 2021 and was 56.6% in 2025. The first nine months of 2026 show 61.0% occupancy, a $391 ADR and $6,262 in monthly revenue, though a nine month window is not directly comparable to a full year.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type mix is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Saint Helena Island, so this profile omits it.
Saint Helena Island itself is a rural Sea Island with a population of 8,763 and is the center of Gullah/Geechee culture. It is not a resort destination like Hilton Head. Visitors are mostly heritage and cultural travelers and people passing through to Hunting Island State Park. Rentals also need special use approval, covered in the regulatory section below.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 38% |
| Feb | 61% |
| Mar | 70% |
| Apr | 64% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 79% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 33% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Saint Helena Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Hilton Head market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Hilton Head market as a whole, which includes Saint Helena Island, so these counts are not Saint Helena Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 710 | 29,602 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | LSI Vacation Rental SC | 582 | 14,605 | ★ 4.63 |
| 3 | VacayHome Connect | 480 | 96 | ★ 4.60 |
| 4 | Beach Properties of Hilton Head | 430 | 3,630 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | The Vacation Company | 385 | 9,052 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Saint Helena Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saint Helena 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 | 11.1% |
| vrbo | 20.9% |
| both | 68% |
Home Value Trends (Saint Helena Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saint Helena 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 Saint Helena 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
Saint Helena Island rentals are legal but discretionary. The island is unincorporated Beaufort County, so short-term rentals fall under the county Community Development Code Section 4.1.360 rather than a city ordinance. Nearly all of the island sits in the T2Rural district under the Cultural Protection Overlay, where a short-term rental is a special use requiring case by case approval rather than a by-right use. Rentals are permitted by right only in certain mixed-use center districts (C4 and C5), which are scarce on the island.
Every rental needs a Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit and a Beaufort County business license. The zoning permit renews annually, on or before April 1. A permit fee is not published in the profile data. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on nights per year. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
The Cultural Protection Overlay exists to protect Gullah/Geechee land and culture. It bans golf courses, gated communities and resorts, so resort-style rental development is effectively off the table even though individual home rentals can still be approved. County Council reaffirmed and clarified the overlay on May 8, 2023, and related development disputes, including the Pine Island proposal, continued into 2024 with the county backing the overlay in litigation.
Safety rules require posted fire-safety plans on each level, smoke detectors replaced if over 10 years old, and carbon monoxide alarms outside bedrooms on every level.
On taxes, Beaufort County levies a 3% local accommodations tax. South Carolina adds a 2% state accommodations tax. Stays under 90 days owe state sales tax, with a 1% local option bringing the combined rate to roughly 7%, and operators must hold an SCDOR retail license and file returns. These rules apply to Saint Helena Island, and other towns in the regional performance data follow their own rules.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 the Beaufort County Lowcountry STR market posted 48.7% occupancy and a $352 ADR, with luxury listings at $555. That points to a high-rate market with moderate occupancy at that point in the year.
The seasonal profile changes the picture. July occupancy of 80.1% and June occupancy of 78.5% are well above the September reading, while December at 33.4% is far below it. The market is therefore a strong summer destination with a long soft season rather than a steady year-round performer.
Year over year, occupancy is up 7.8% and ADR is up 5.0%, though monthly revenue is down 3.7%. Over the longer run, ADR has climbed from $235 in 2017 to $371 in 2025, while occupancy has eased from its 2021 peak of 65.2% to 56.6%.
Saint Helena Island differs from the resort towns it shares regional data with. It is a rural, culturally protected island where rentals need special use approval, so supply growth is constrained and the guest base leans toward heritage and nature travelers. Operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Saint Helena Island, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Helena Island, South Carolina
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What is the occupancy rate for Saint Helena Island area rentals?
Is a short-term rental allowed on Saint Helena Island?
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What are the best and worst months for rental income?
What taxes apply to rentals on Saint Helena Island?
How much does a home cost in the Saint Helena Island market?
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