LicensedRental

South Carolina county rules

Greenville County, SC vacation rental rules and taxes

Greenville County has more than 1,200 short-term rentals. The City of Greenville limits new ones to mixed-use and commercial zones, Travelers Rest, Simpsonville, and Mauldin require permits, and the county itself was drafting a registration ordinance for unincorporated areas in 2026.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026
Market
More than 1,200 rentals
Greenville 880, Greer 212, Travelers Rest 153, Simpsonville 116, Taylors 83 Airbnb listings (AirROI).Source
State-collected tax
7%
5% sales + 2% state accommodations; Greenville County has no local sales tax.Source
County accommodations fee
Unincorporated areas only
1994 ordinances set 2.3% plus 0.7%. Cities charge their own 2% to 3%.Source
County rules
Draft only
A registration ordinance for unincorporated areas was in committee in August 2026.Source

Greer and Fountain Inn extend into Spartanburg and Laurens counties; the state-collected tax rate differs in those parts.

What to do

  1. Then your city or area

    Permits, zoning, and the local accommodations tax are set by each city. Pick your area.

Towns

Full guide

Fountain Inn

We found no short-term rental permit or rules in Fountain Inn’s code. You owe 7% state + 3% city accommodations tax, and the town may require a business license.

Full guide

Greenville (city)

Greenville allows short-term rentals (under 30 days) only in its mixed-use and commercial zoning districts, not in residential zones. You need a $40 short-term rental permit, a city business license, and to pay the city’s 3% local accommodations tax.

Full guide

Greer

Greer’s development code treats lodging for 30 days or less as “transient lodging,” a commercial use, but doesn’t say which zones allow it, and we found no short-term rental permit. The city adds a 2% accommodations tax.

Full guide

Mauldin

Mauldin allows whole-home short-term rentals of detached houses as a conditional use in its residential zones, with a city permit and business license. Guests are capped at 2 adults per bedroom and 6 adults total, and townhomes and apartments can’t be rented short-term.

Full guide

Simpsonville

Since October 2025, Simpsonville requires a city permit and business license for every short-term rental where the owner moves out during the stay; rentals where the owner stays home must qualify as a bed and breakfast inn. The permit application is $250, renewed yearly, and the city adds a 3% accommodations tax.

Full guide

Travelers Rest

Travelers Rest requires every short-term rental (under 30 days) to register with the city, pay $250 a year, and pass a yearly safety inspection. Guests are capped at 2 per bedroom or 8 total, and the city adds a 3% accommodations tax.

Full guide

Unincorporated Greenville County

Greenville County has no adopted short-term rental rules yet, but a 2026 draft ordinance would require yearly county registration and a local agent. The county already charges its own accommodations fee in unincorporated areas, and the county requires a business registration.

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.