Change pending or in fluxLast verified 2026-10-25

Summerville short-term rental rules

In most residential zones the owner must live on site and be present while guests are registered; a clarifying UDO rewrite was workshopped Oct 15, 2026.

Not legal advice. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, last checked 2026-10-25. Rules change, and some items are pending. Always verify with the municipality or county before you buy, list, or renew. Each fact links to its official source.

The rules at a glance

TopicWhat the official sources say
Allowed and wherePermitted uses in D-MX, UC-MX, N-B and G-B. Conditional uses in N-R, N-MX, GR-2, GR-3, GR-5, MF-R and MH-R; GR-3 and GR-5 also need a Board of Zoning Appeals Special Exception.
Permit or licenseLodging Conditional Use permit and/or Special Exception plus a business license, via CitizenServe. Initial Town safety inspection. Liability insurance required for each unit.
Feesunknown
Caps or wait listNo cap found.
Owner-occupancyRequired in the conditional residential zones: at least 50% of record owners must reside there (voting, license or ID address and 4% assessment), live there at least 183 days a year, and be on site whenever guests are registered.
Occupancy limitCurrent UDO: unknown. Proposed (Oct 15, 2026 draft): 2 persons per bedroom (minors excluded) plus 2 per unit, up to 5 guest rooms for STR-1 and 10 for STR-2.
Post your limits where guests see them. Host Printables include fillable house rules and Wi-Fi signs. Take a look
ParkingProposed (Oct 15, 2026 draft): 1 off-street space per guest room. Current: unknown.
Taxes on staysunknown (Town and Dorchester County accommodations rates not verified in this pass). SCDOR sales 5% and state accommodations 2% apply statewide.
Registration and renewalOwner keeps 2 years of records on residency, days occupied, days rented and insurance.
Gross receipts for license and tax filings. The Host Income and Expense Tracker totals them by month. Take a look
Recent changes (dated)Oct 10, 2019: UDO adopted with STR rules (announced Feb 10, 2020). Oct 15, 2026: Council planning workshop on Chapter 3 STR clarifications (annual STR permit renewal, permit number in ads, max occupancy, covenant prohibition). Status: proposed, not adopted.

Estimate the lodging tax on a booking in Summerville with the free Keel & Charter calculator.

See all 12 coastal SC areas

Host templates from Keel & Charter

Simple spreadsheets and printables for running a rental. Instant download.

Host Bundle

Income tracker, turnover schedule, house rules and Wi-Fi signs in one download.

Get it

Airbnb Host Income and Expense Tracker

Occupancy, ADR, net income by month and a Schedule E summary. Handy for the gross receipts your license renewal asks for.

Get it

STR Cleaning and Turnover Schedule

Turnaround windows, cleaner status and pay, and a supplies reorder list.

Get it

Host Printables

Fillable house rules and Wi-Fi signs. Post your occupancy, parking and quiet hours where guests will see them.

Get it