LicensedRental

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Goose Creek, SC vacation rental requirements

Goose Creek requires a yearly short-term rental unit permit ($100) for each whole home rented under 30 days, with one rental per lot. You need one off-street space per bedroom and a contact who can be on site within an hour. The city adds a 1% accommodations tax, filed through its MuniRevs portal.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026

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City permit
$100 a year
One per dwelling; not transferable to a new owner.Source
Limits
1 rental per lot, whole home only
No accessory structures.Source
Parking
1 off-street space per bedroom
Taxes
10% + 1% city + 2% county fee
10% state-collected, 1% city accommodations tax, and Berkeley County’s 2% fee.Source

The city doesn’t inspect rentals but recommends an independent inspection, including decks and docks.

The city’s permit page says owners need a business license, but its tax FAQ says the permit is all you need. Ask the city which applies.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of South Carolina

  1. Get a retail license for direct bookings

    If you take bookings yourself, you need a SCDOR retail license for each rental property and must file and pay electronically through MyDORWAY. If you rent only through a property manager or an online travel company that takes the payment, they remit the state tax and you don’t need a license. Rent no more than one week a quarter and you can file once a year instead.Source

    MyDORWAY →

  2. Know what the platform collects

    Airbnb collects the 5% sales tax, 2% accommodations tax, and the local sales taxes the state collects, on its bookings. It also collects some county and city accommodations taxes, but only in the places it lists. Everything else is yours to file.Source

  3. Register for local taxes

    Many counties and cities charge their own accommodations tax (up to 3%), a hospitality tax, or a beach preservation fee. They collect these directly, so you register with the county or city even if a platform pays your state tax.Source

  4. Check your property tax rate

    A home that is your legal residence keeps the 4% assessment ratio only if it is rented out 72 days or less a year. Rent it more and it is taxed as a 6% rental property. Ask your county assessor.Source

  5. Then your county and city

    Business licenses, rental permits, and zoning are where South Carolina towns differ most. Pick your area.

Berkeley County, South Carolina

  1. Register for the county fee

    Collect the 2% fee from guests and send it to the Berkeley County Treasurer, 223 North Live Oak Drive, Moncks Corner, by the 20th of each month.Source

  2. Then your city or area

    Pick your area. For Daniel Island or Cainhoy, use the City of Charleston page.

City of Goose Creek

  1. Apply for the permit

    Apply online with proof of ownership, the signed checklist and responsibilities form, notice to adjacent owners (or a copy of a mailed letter with proof of mailing), and an HOA approval letter if you’re in a planned development.Source

    Goose Creek STR permit →

  2. Name a 24/7 contact

    You or an agent (18 or older) must answer around the clock, reach the home within an hour, and check on it at least weekly. An agent who isn’t the owner needs a city business license.Source

  3. Register for state and local taxes

    The state-collected tax on stays here is 10% (state sales and accommodations tax plus local sales taxes). Airbnb collects it on its bookings; for direct bookings, get a SCDOR retail license and file through MyDORWAY. File the city’s 1% tax through MuniRevs by the 20th each month, even in months with no rentals; it covers rent not already remitted by a platform. Berkeley County’s 2% fee is filed with the county treasurer.Source

House rules for guests

Quiet hours
10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Source
Posting
Permit and guest information sheet
Agent contact, license number, maximum occupancy, parking, emergency numbers, trash days, nearest hospital.Source

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.