Short-Term Rental Ordinance Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Short-term rental permit is separate from the annual business license.

Every owner must obtain a short-term rental permit in addition to the business license

Contact Town Short-term Rental staff at 843-341-4740 or STRPlan@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

Short-term rental permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

To obtain a short-term rental permit, the owner will need to submit an application form with information about the property.

The owner will need to affirm on the application form that their property meets the regulations in the Ordinance.

The permit cannot be transferred to a different property or a different property owner.

Short-term rental permits are non-refundable.

• The fee is limited to recovering costs associated with identifying short-term rental properties, ensuring compliance with permitting requirements, and addressing violations.
• Short-Term Rental permit fee is $250 for each property offered for short-term rental.

Permits are good for the calendar year, therefore the permit expires December 31.

You will need your GovOS STR permit number

You may contact Town Short-term Rental Staff at 843-341-4740 or STRPlan@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

The annual business license does not expire until April 30. You will receive instructions and a business license renewal form from that office in January.

As a resort area, Hilton Head Island has numerous short-term rental units. The lack of a short-term rental Ordinance has led to an imbalance between residential and resort districts and the elimination of some long-term single-family neighborhoods.

The adopted ordinance facilitates the management of short-term rental impacts on our neighborhoods, economy, housing stock, public facilities, and the quality of life of our residents and experiences of our visitors.

The Short-Term Rental Ordinance defines short-term as less than 30 days and applies to all condominiums, villas, and single-family dwellings.

It does not apply to timeshares or hotels.

While most short-term rentals are concentrated near the beach and other traditional tourist areas, they are located throughout the Island. A map showing the distribution of short-term rentals on the south end of the Island was included in the May 3, 2022, Town Council meeting agenda materials.

View the Town Council May 3, 2022 Agenda Package

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The Short-Term Rental Ordinance is available on the Town's website.

View the Short-Term Rental Ordinance

The Town has contracted with GovOS to identify , monitor, and permit short-term rentals properties.

The Town has contracted with GovOS to establish a 24 hour a day hotline and an online portal to receive complaints and route them to the point of contact listed by the owner on the short-term rental permit.

Short-Term Rental Hotline
843-341-6864

Submit a Complaint Online