Short-Term Rental Regulations
in St. Helena Island, SC

Airbnb listings are allowed in St. Helena Island, SC, but with restrictions. Beaufort County authorizes short-term rentals in unincorporated areas as Special Uses in specific T2–T4 transect and C3 zones, and as Permitted Uses in C4 and C5 zones. STRs are prohibited in the MCAS Airport Overlay and Noise Zone 3; advertisements must display permit and license numbers, and residential signage is prohibited. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Beaufort County authorizes short-term rentals in unincorporated areas as Special Uses in specific T2–T4 transect and C3 zones, and as Permitted Uses in C4 and C5 zones. STRs are prohibited in the MCAS Airport Overlay and Noise Zone 3; advertisements must display permit and license numbers, and residential signage is prohibited.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in St. Helena Island. 1) Schedule a pre-application meeting with Zoning (Lisa Anderson) and submit the STR Zoning Permit application with a plot plan, photos, and Fire Safety Standards Form. 2) For Special Use sites, apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals; for Permitted Use sites, proceed with the Zoning Permit. 3) Obtain a Business License after zoning approval; permits must be renewed annually by April 1.

1) Schedule a pre-application meeting with Zoning (Lisa Anderson) and submit the STR Zoning Permit application with a plot plan, photos, and Fire Safety Standards Form. 2) For Special Use sites, apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals; for Permitted Use sites, proceed with the Zoning Permit. 3) Obtain a Business License after zoning approval; permits must be renewed annually by April 1.

Vrbo is permitted in St. Helena Island, SC under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in St. Helena Island are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for St. Helena Island. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.