Short-term rentals on the islands

For owners & buyers

Owning a short-term rental

Caps, licenses and 13% in taxes on Kiawah and Seabrook — check before you buy.

The rules, island by island

• Kiawah. Licenses capped at 20% in R-1 and named R-2 areas (97 left on July 31, 2026), and they don't transfer on a sale.Source: Town of Kiawah Island, short-term rentals
• Seabrook. Class A permits capped: 55 of 557 open inside the overlay, 7 of 110 outside, on October 12, 2026; a permit can transfer with a sale closing by April 30, 2027.Source: Town of Seabrook Island, short-term rentals
• Johns Island. In the City, the owner lives on the property and stays overnight during stays; in the County, owner-occupied rentals run up to 72 days, and 73–144 days only in certain zones by special exception.Source: City of Charleston, short-term rental permits · Charleston County, short-term rental brochure
• The taxes. 13% in all on Kiawah and on Seabrook, by the Towns' own papers. The state's share goes to SCDOR — when Vrbo or Expedia takes the booking and the payment, it's responsible for the state tax on that booking. The County's 2% fee and the local rate on top (1% on each island, 2% in the City) are on the County's accommodations page, where new rentals register.Source: Town of Kiawah Island, accommodations tax packet · Town of Seabrook Island, Ordinance 2024-06 summary · SCDOR, accommodations tax · Charleston County, local accommodations fee
• The 72-day line. Rent your own home more than 72 days in a year and it loses the 4% ratio for that year.Source: Charleston County, legal residence application

Checked October 14, 2026. Caps and counts change; confirm with the Town before you make an offer.

What it costs to run one

• Seabrook Island · Seabrook Island Club

  Rental Guest Amenity Fee

  $2,100 a year — Golf $2,100 · Racquet $4,200 · Neighborhood $6,300 a year — the lower tiers pay more, as published

  Seabrook Island Club, 2026 Membership Guide (linked from seabrookisland.com/club-life) · checked October 13, 2026

• Seabrook Island · Town of Seabrook Island

  Short-term rental permit (Class A)

  $150 a year — $150 permit, plus a business license: $500 minimum on the first $2,000 of rent, then $2.95 per $1,000

  Town of Seabrook Island, Short-Term Rentals · checked October 13, 2026

• Kiawah Island · Town of Kiawah Island

  Short-term rental license

  $500 a year — Application $500 (R-1 and capped R-2 streets) or $200 (other zones), plus a rental license tax: $75 on the first $2,000 of rent, then $3.05 per $1,000

  Town of Kiawah Island, Rental License Rates (eff. 2/1/2026) · checked October 13, 2026

• Kiawah Island · State, county and Town

  Taxes on short-term rent

  13% of rent collected

  Town of Kiawah Island, accommodations tax packet · checked October 13, 2026

The whole ledger is on every fee, and the true-cost calculator adds them up for a price and an island.

Tools for you and your guests

Hand your renters the free guest cards, house manuals and island guides, and check a property before you buy it.

Guest cards & house manualsFlood zone for any addressTrue-cost calculatorWhat’s my home worth?

Thinking about buying one?

The Islander Home Team helps buyers and owners with vacation homes and rentals on all three islands. Ask before you write an offer, because on Kiawah and Seabrook the license is the part that can’t be assumed.

Homes for saleAsk the Islander Home TeamOwning from away