Investment Article · South of Broad, SC

Short-Term Rental Rules & Investment Potential in South of Broad, SC

Short-term rental investors need to know this upfront: South of Broad sits in the City of Charleston's strictest short-term rental tier, and the rules here effectively rule out the Airbnb strategy for the vast majority of properties.

The City's Category 1 Rules Are Narrow by Design

The Old and Historic District, which covers South of Broad, is the City of Charleston's most restrictive short-term rental category. A property must be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places to even qualify, is limited to one short-term rental unit, and requires dedicated off-street parking. Most homes here simply don't meet the National Register threshold.

Owner-Occupancy Is Mandatory Citywide

Charleston requires owner-occupancy for residential short-term rentals, verified against the property's 4% owner-occupied tax assessment. A whole-house, non-owner-occupied rental strategy is not a legal path here, and the city does not grandfather properties operating outside these rules.

Confirm Current Licensing Status Directly

Whether the City is presently accepting new Category 1 applications, versus the National Register requirement having effectively closed the door on new licenses, isn't something to assume either way. Contact the City of Charleston's short-term rental office directly, or ask me to check on a specific property, before underwriting any nightly-rental income into a deal here.

A Note on Timing

Charleston's short-term rental ordinance has been revised before and could be again. Confirm current requirements directly with the City before building any income projection around short-term rental activity in this district.

Evaluating a specific South of Broad property? Contact Chris Eller directly, or browse more Investment Articles.