Short-Term Rental Laws in Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville's STR ordinance permits short-term rental in most residential and commercial zones with a dual-track registration: Type 1 Owner-Occupied (primary residence) — broadly permitted citywide with simplified registration; Type 2 Non-Owner-Occupied — permitted in most zones BUT requires a more rigorous permit including life-safety inspection, parking plan, and (in some single-family overlays) a special exception approval. Multi-family zoning (RM-1.5, RM-2.5, RM-15) and commercial mixed-use zones (RD, OD, C-1/C-2/C-3) broadly permit Type 2 STR by right. The ordinance does not impose a citywide cap.

Type 2 (Non-Owner-Occupied) STR permitted by right in: RM Multi-Family, RD Residential District (downtown-adjacent), all C-1/C-2/C-3 Commercial, and Office District zones. In R-6, R-7.5, R-10, R-15, R-20 single-family zones, Type 2 may require a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals depending on proximity to other STR-permitted parcels. Greenville's downtown and the Village of West Greenville neighborhoods are the densest STR submarkets — both broadly STR-friendly. Confirm zoning + (if applicable) BZA special-exception requirements before purchase.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Greenville Planning + Code Enforcement administer. Annual renewal. Application requires designated 24/7 local contact, proof of insurance, life-safety inspection (Type 2), parking plan, and Greenville County accommodations tax registration. Operating without a permit: civil penalties starting at $250 escalating to $500+ per violation with daily stacking. Code Enforcement cross-references Airbnb/Vrbo listings against the STR permit registry monthly.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Greenville is approximately 12.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

SC State sales tax 6% + Greenville County local option 1% + Greenville Accommodations Tax 3% + Greenville City Hospitality Tax 2% — combined ~12.0% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.