South Carolina · County intelligence
Charleston County vacation rental market
5 tracked short-term rental markets sit inside Charleston County. Across them, nightly rates model at $355 and occupancy at 60%, for roughly $77,160 of gross annual revenue on a three-bedroom home.
Markets in Charleston County
| # | Market | Modelled annual revenue | Nightly rate | Occupancy | Peak season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiawah Island, SCCharleston County | $92,400 | $452 | 56% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 2 | Isle of Palms, SCCharleston County | $82,800 | $372 | 61% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 3 | Seabrook Island, SCCharleston County | $72,700 | $362 | 55% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 4 | Charleston, SCCharleston County | $71,800 | $298 | 66% | Apr–May–Oct |
| 5 | Folly Beach, SCCharleston County | $66,100 | $292 | 62% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
Why the county matters
Short-term rental rules in Charleston County rarely sit in one place. A home inside an incorporated city usually answers to that city's ordinance, while a home in unincorporated Charleston County answers to the county — often with different licence, inspection and minimum-stay requirements. County-level tourist development tax normally applies either way, on top of state sales tax.
Before buying, confirm two things: which jurisdiction the parcel actually sits in, and whether that jurisdiction caps or zones short-term rentals.
Rule status by market
- Kiawah IslandStatus unpublished
- CharlestonStatus unpublished
- Isle of PalmsStatus unpublished
- Seabrook IslandStatus unpublished
- Folly BeachStatus unpublished
We have not yet verified an official Charleston County ordinance against a primary source, so no rule position is stated here. Always confirm with the county before committing.
Operating costs are modelled at 32% of gross revenue for a nightly rental (cleaning, supplies, utilities, platform fees, maintenance, insurance) and 14% for a monthly rental. Financing assumes a 25% down payment and a 30-year loan at 7%. These are planning assumptions, not quotes — replace them with your own numbers.
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