Beaufort Airbnb & STR Rules 2026 — Permits & Rules (Updated July)

At a Glance — Beaufort Airbnb & STR Rules

Rule	Details
Regulatory Status	Restricted — rules apply
Permit / License Required	Yes
Tax Rate	City of Beaufort Local Accommodations Fee: 3% of gross rental income (remitted monthly by the 20th); SC State Accommodations Tax: remitted separately
Minimum Stay	2-night minimum stay required (must be specified in the rental agreement).
Permit Fee	Conditional Use Permit application: $100 fee; Safety inspection fee: $50 (contact 843-525-7041 to schedule); Annual City Business License renewal requ
Penalties	Operating without a permit: $1,000 fine per violation. Three nuisance strikes results in license revocation. City uses listing-monitoring software to
Occupancy Limit	Maximum number of guests based on number of beds (per rental agreement requirement). DHEC general guidelines for septic system capacity based on bedro

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Beaufort Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview

Beaufort Short-Term Rental Regulations Overview

Short-term rentals in Beaufort, South Carolina are allowed but subject to significant restrictions under local regulations as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. The associated permit fees are Conditional Use Permit application: $100 fee; Safety inspection fee: $50 (contact 843-525-7041 to sc.

Tax Requirements for Airbnb Hosts in Beaufort

Short-term rental operators in Beaufort should be aware of these tax obligations: City of Beaufort Local Accommodations Fee: 3% of gross rental income (remitted monthly by the 20th); SC State Accommodations Tax: remitted separately to SC DOR. Standard SC state sales tax also applies..

Hosting Rules and Restrictions in Beaufort

Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Beaufort include: Occupancy limit: Maximum number of guests based on number of beds (per rental agreement requirement). DHEC general guidelines for septic . Minimum stay: 2-night minimum stay required (must be specified in the rental agreement)..

Zoning and Location Requirements in Beaufort

Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Beaufort: Rental of a whole house, room, carriage house, or accessory dwelling unit for less than 30 days constitutes an STR (City Code Section 3.6.2.C.2). Density caps apply: 3% of allowable parcels in the 304. Density rules: 3% cap in National Historic Landmark District; 4% cap in all other residential neighborhoods (excluding The Point). Multiple structures on one parcel . Insurance: Yes.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Beaufort

Hosts who fail to comply with Beaufort's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Operating without a permit: $1,000 fine per violation. Three nuisance strikes results in license revocation. City uses listing-monitoring software to identify unlicensed operators proactively..

Platform Obligations in Beaufort

Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Beaufort: State sales and accommodations taxes may be collected by platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) for qualifying bookings; operators remain responsible for city local accommodations fee (3%) remittance monthly. A mon.

Full Regulatory Details

Regulatory Status

Restricted

License / Registration

Yes

Tax Registration

Yes

Permit Fee

Conditional Use Permit application: $100 fee; Safety inspection fee: $50 (contact 843-525-7041 to schedule); Annual City Business License renewal required. SC DOR Retail License for accommodations account required if self-managing (free, via dor.sc.gov).

Occupancy Limit

Maximum number of guests based on number of beds (per rental agreement requirement). DHEC general guidelines for septic system capacity based on bedroom count also apply.

Tax Rate

City of Beaufort Local Accommodations Fee: 3% of gross rental income (remitted monthly by the 20th); SC State Accommodations Tax: remitted separately to SC DOR. Standard SC state sales tax also applies.

Zoning Restrictions

Rental of a whole house, room, carriage house, or accessory dwelling unit for less than 30 days constitutes an STR (City Code Section 3.6.2.C.2). Density caps apply: 3% of allowable parcels in the 304-acre National Historic Landmark District; 4% of residentially zoned parcels per neighborhood everywhere else in the city. 'The Point' neighborhood is excluded from the neighborhood cap. New permits are subject to neighborhood caps; some areas are already near or at capacity. Spacing requirements also apply per April 2026 ordinance.

Minimum Stay

2-night minimum stay required (must be specified in the rental agreement).

Density Rules

3% cap in National Historic Landmark District; 4% cap in all other residential neighborhoods (excluding The Point). Multiple structures on one parcel may lead to concentrations exceeding the spirit of the cap. Three-strike enforcement policy for nuisance violations.

Insurance Required

Yes

Platform Obligations

State sales and accommodations taxes may be collected by platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) for qualifying bookings; operators remain responsible for city local accommodations fee (3%) remittance monthly. A monitored fire alarm system on each floor of the STR is required. Rental agreement must be in writing and specify: 2-night minimum stay, max guests, max vehicles, parking location, noise ordinance hours (9pm–8am), prohibition of large gatherings (e.g., weddings) without city approval, and pet policies.

Compliance Notes

New comprehensive STR ordinance passed unanimously by Beaufort City Council on April 28, 2026, per City Code Section 3.6.2.C.2, establishing density caps (3% historic district / 4% elsewhere), spacing requirements, licensing standards, and a three-strike enforcement policy. This replaced prior less-restrictive rules. The ordinance addresses a 42% increase in STRs since 2022 (91 rentals in the historic district at time of passage). City uses listing-monitoring software to detect unpermitted rentals. Owner is NOT required to be present during guest stays (per Section 3.6.2.C.2). Beaufort County (unincorporated areas) has a separate, different STR permit process administered by Beaufort County Zoning (STRs are Special Uses in most zones; contact Lisa Anderson at 843-255-2171).

Effective Date

2026-04-28

Key Notes

This is a very recently enacted ordinance (April 28, 2026). Density caps mean some neighborhoods may already be at or near the 4% limit, making new permits unavailable in certain areas. Three-strike nuisance policy can result in license revocation. City actively uses monitoring software to find unlicensed listings. A monitored fire alarm system on each floor is a hard requirement. 2-night minimum stay is mandated in the rental agreement.

Penalties

Operating without a permit: $1,000 fine per violation. Three nuisance strikes results in license revocation. City uses listing-monitoring software to identify unlicensed operators proactively.

Additional Context

The City of Beaufort is distinct from Beaufort County (unincorporated). County STR rules (administered by Beaufort County Zoning) allow STRs as Special Uses in many transect zones and are separately permitted through the county SRT (Staff Review Team) process. The April 2026 city ordinance followed nearly 10 months of public meetings. The historic district alone had 91 STRs at time of ordinance passage. Beaufort reported a 42% jump in STRs since 2022.

Sources

City of Beaufort Official STR Page: https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/344/Short-Term-Rentals
Beaufort County Zoning STR Page: https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/zoning/Short-Term%20Rentals.html
Beaufort County STR Procedures PDF: https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/zoning/documents/Short%20Term%20Rental%20Procedures.pdf
Post & Courier coverage of April 28, 2026 ordinance: https://www.postandcourier.com/beaufort-county/beaufort-limits-short-term-rentals/article_a512cfed-beda-4e9a-8647-462cc5956692.html

📋 Apply / Register with the Official Authority

Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.

Official Source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Beaufort?

Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Beaufort but subject to restrictions. Hosts must comply with local permit requirements and zoning rules. New comprehensive STR ordinance passed unanimously by Beaufort City Council on April 28, 2026, per City Code Section 3.6.2.C.2, establishing density caps (3% historic district / 4% elsewhere), spacing

Do you need a permit for Airbnb in Beaufort?

Yes. Beaufort requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes.

What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Beaufort?

Short-term rental hosts in Beaufort are subject to the following tax obligations: City of Beaufort Local Accommodations Fee: 3% of gross rental income (remitted monthly by the 20th); SC State Accommodations Tax: remitted separately to SC DOR. Standard SC state sales tax also applies..

What are the penalties for illegal Airbnb hosting in Beaufort?

Hosts who operate without proper permits in Beaufort may face enforcement. Operating without a permit: $1,000 fine per violation. Three nuisance strikes results in license revocation. City uses listing-monitoring software to identify unlicensed operators proactively..

What are the key STR compliance requirements in Beaufort?

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