Home / Cities / Myrtle Beach

Is Airbnb legal in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?

Legal with a city business license, but only in visitor zoning. Myrtle Beach has no separate STR permit, but every rental operator needs an annual city business license whose fee is a percentage of gross rental revenue. The real gate is zoning: rentals under 90 days are allowed only in districts permitting visitor accommodations, and most traditional residential R districts do not allow them at all. There is no annual night cap.

Showing the researched rules for Myrtle Beach, SC below. Type your Myrtle Beach address to jump to the verdict.

Legal with permit

Legal with a city business license, but only in visitor zoning

Myrtle Beach has no separate STR permit, but every rental operator needs an annual city business license whose fee is a percentage of gross rental revenue. The real gate is zoning: rentals under 90 days are allowed only in districts permitting visitor accommodations, and most traditional residential R districts do not allow them at all. There is no annual night cap.

Permit and costs

Permit
City Business License
Issued by
City of Myrtle Beach
Cost
Percentage of gross rental revenue, varies by year
Renewal
Annual, due by April 30

Key limits

Night cap
None
Zoning
Under-90-day rentals only in visitor districts like RMV, MU-H, C6, Amusement, Entertainment, Highway Commercial
Residential ban
Most traditional R residential districts prohibit rentals under 90 days
License renewal
Due April 30 each year, 5% penalty per month if late

Taxes

State taxes
5% sales tax plus 2% state accommodations tax
City and county add-ons
0.5% city accommodations tax, 1% city hospitality fee, 1.5% county hospitality fee

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Verify the zoning district
    Check with the city that the property sits in an STR-permitting district before buying, most residential streets do not qualify.
  2. 2
    Get the city business license
    Apply through the Business License Division with ownership documents, paying the gross-receipts-based fee.
  3. 3
    Set up all tax accounts
    Register with the SC Department of Revenue for state taxes and with the city and Horry County for local accommodations and hospitality taxes.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
Condo HOAs on the Grand Strand set their own minimum stays and rental policies that can be stricter than the city.
County differs
Unincorporated Horry County follows its own short-term rental checklist, not the city's rules.

Sources

AvantStay Myrtle Beach STR rules 2026 · STR Profit Map Myrtle Beach regulations

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

Want this verified for your exact address?

$75 per address
  • Verdict for your parcel, not just the city
  • Permit name, fee, and renewal schedule
  • Night caps, occupancy rules, and key limits
  • Tax rates and a step-by-step checklist

Free during early access. Run the free address check

Also check

Charleston, SC Hilton Head Island, SC Gulf Shores, AL Orange Beach, AL All 103 cities
Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.