Vacohost

    South Carolina

    City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina short-term rental rules

    Overview

    Myrtle Beach's own published guidance confirms that short-term rentals are subject to zoning restrictions and that not every neighborhood permits them, so the first thing to establish is your parcel's zoning district rather than what a neighbor or a listing site says. The city also requires a business license to operate a business within city limits. Because the Grand Strand runs through several separate jurisdictions, verify whether your address is inside the City of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, or unincorporated Horry County before you rely on any rule you read.

    Areas covered: Properties inside the Myrtle Beach city limits · Last verified

    Verified requirements for City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

    Each item below was read from the official document cited with it. Nothing here is generic guidance.

    1. capsZoning

      Most residential (R-prefix) zoning districts in Myrtle Beach do NOT allow short-term rentals (under 90 days), except the RMV (Residential Multifamily Visitor) district.

      Source: City of Myrtle Beach — Short-Term Rental Zoning (opens in a new tab) · Ever wonder if your home or neighborhood... short-term rentals? (news article body) · Verified

    2. renewal

      Business license year runs June 1–May 31; renewal notices mailed by April 1, due June 1, delinquent after July 1 with 5%/month penalty up to 30%.

      Source: City of Myrtle Beach — Business License FAQs (opens in a new tab) · When is the business license fee due? · Verified

    3. taxes

      Business license fees are calculated on gross receipts; state accommodations tax also applies per SCDOR rules.

      Source: City of Myrtle Beach — Business License FAQs (opens in a new tab) · How is the license fee calculated? / What is the Local Accommodations Tax? · Verified

    Regulation research score

    How far the short-term-rental rules we confirmed from cited official sources for City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina constrain an ordinary non-owner-occupied, whole-home short-term rental, expressed on a 0–100 burden scale built from 12 weighted criteria in two dimensions: market access and operating compliance. Higher means more constrained. It is not a legal conclusion, a permissiveness rating, a market rating, a measure of desirability, legality or profitability, and not investment advice.

    Very high / effectively restricted· 91/100 (range 82–100)· Low confidence, provisional

    Documented rules make an ordinary non-owner-occupied whole-home short-term rental unavailable or close to impossible for most properties — for example an outright prohibition, a primary-residence mandate, or a closed permit programme.

    A documented severe market-access trigger is present (zoning eligibility, caps, density or spacing), so the effectively-restricted band is available. The observed estimate of 91 of 100 combines an access sub-score of 100 and an operating sub-score of 15.

    Based on 33% evidence coverage. 8 criteria are unresolved, so this is an observed floor: the plausible interval reaches 100 of 100. A low observed score here means "little confirmed", not "lightly regulated".

    Market access and eligibility · 100 of 100

    • Prohibition or closed entryMajor access constraint · 65

      The same district-level exclusion, cited separately.

    • Zoning eligibility, caps, density or spacingSevere market-access trigger · 100

      Most residential zoning districts do not allow rentals under 90 days; only the RMV district does.

    Operating and compliance · 15 of 100

    • Renewal or transfer10 pts
    • Lodging tax or fees5 pts

    Operating rules are weighted at 0.45, so compliance requirements alone cannot push a jurisdiction past Moderate / structured.

    Burden estimate
    91 of 100 · Very high / effectively restricted
    Uncertainty interval
    82–100 of 100
    Evidence coverage
    33% · 4 of 12 criteria resolved
    Confidence
    Low — provisional
    Last reviewed

    Low confidence — provisional. Only 33% of the rubric is resolved against official sources. The observed estimate of 91 counts confirmed evidence only; unresolved criteria widen the interval upward to 100. Treat it as indicative, not precise, and confirm directly with the jurisdiction.

    4 of 12 rubric criteria resolved against cited official sources.

    Why this score

    Market-access findings are graded severe, major, moderate or none from the cited official claim itself; the most severe finding scores in full and each additional finding adds a quarter of its points, so correlated restrictions are never double-counted. The operating sub-score is a weighted count out of 100 and is multiplied by 0.45, which is why routine permitting, inspection, contact, tax and enforcement rules alone cannot exceed the Moderate / structured band. An unresolved criterion is never recorded as 'not required' and never scored as zero: it enters the central estimate at a quarter of its worst case and reaches its full worst case at the top of the published interval, but it can never release the gates that open the high-access or effectively-restricted bands — those read confirmed findings only. Every result therefore ships as estimate, interval, evidence coverage and confidence together.

    • Prohibition or closed entry65.00 pts (range 65–65 of 100)

      Confirmed by a cited official source and graded major access constraint (65 access points). The same district-level exclusion, cited separately.

    • Owner-occupancy or primary residence25.00 pts (range 0–100 of 100)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 100 access points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Zoning eligibility, caps, density or spacing100.00 pts (range 100–100 of 65)

      Confirmed by a cited official source and graded severe market-access trigger (100 access points). Most residential zoning districts do not allow rentals under 90 days; only the RMV district does.

    • Minimum or maximum stay8.75 pts (range 0–35 of 35)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 35 access points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Permit, licence, or registration5.50 pts (range 0–22 of 22)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 22 operating points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Inspection or life-safety certification4.00 pts (range 0–16 of 16)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 16 operating points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Occupancy and parking3.50 pts (range 0–14 of 14)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 14 operating points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Enforcement and penalties3.50 pts (range 0–14 of 14)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 14 operating points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Local responsible party3.00 pts (range 0–12 of 12)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 12 operating points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Renewal or transfer10.00 pts (range 10–10 of 10)

      Confirmed by a cited official source, so it scores its full 10 of 100 operating points.

    • Advertising and listing rules1.75 pts (range 0–7 of 7)

      Not confirmed either way. It is never recorded as "not required" and never scored as zero: it enters the estimate at 25% of its worst case and widens the upper bound by up to 7 operating points. It can never on its own move this jurisdiction into a higher-access band — those gates read confirmed findings only.

    • Lodging tax or fees5.00 pts (range 5–5 of 5)

      Confirmed by a cited official source, so it scores its full 5 of 100 operating points.

    What we could not confirm — and what to ask

    We found no official source resolving these 8 criteria either way. They are not treated as “not required” and are not scored as zero. Confirm each one with the department listed below before you rely on it.

    • Owner-occupancy or primary residence — unknown; could add 0–100 points.
    • Minimum or maximum stay — unknown; could add 0–35 points.
    • Permit, licence, or registration — unknown; could add 0–22 points.
    • Inspection or life-safety certification — unknown; could add 0–16 points.
    • Occupancy and parking — unknown; could add 0–14 points.
    • Enforcement and penalties — unknown; could add 0–14 points.
    • Local responsible party — unknown; could add 0–12 points.
    • Advertising and listing rules — unknown; could add 0–7 points.

    The rubric

    • Prohibition or closed entryConfirmed — applies

      Does an official source prohibit short-term rentals outright, close the application window, or restrict eligibility so narrowly that most properties cannot qualify?

    • Owner-occupancy or primary residenceNot confirmed

      Does an official source require the owner to occupy the property or hold it as a primary residence?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Zoning eligibility, caps, density or spacingConfirmed — applies

      Does an official source restrict which zones short-term rentals may operate in, or cap, space, or ration how many may exist?

    • Minimum or maximum stayNot confirmed

      Does an official source set a minimum night requirement or a maximum rental term?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Permit, licence, or registrationNot confirmed

      Does an official source require a permit, licence, certificate, or registration before the property is advertised?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Inspection or life-safety certificationNot confirmed

      Does an official source require an inspection, fire or building certification, or posted safety information?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Occupancy and parkingNot confirmed

      Does an official source set an occupancy limit or an on-site parking requirement?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Enforcement and penaltiesNot confirmed

      Does an official source publish penalties, suspension, revocation, or a complaint process for violations?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Local responsible partyNot confirmed

      Does an official source require a named local contact who must respond within a set time?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Renewal or transferConfirmed — applies

      Does an official source set a renewal cycle, or restrict transfer of the permit on sale?

    • Advertising and listing rulesNot confirmed

      Does an official source govern how the property may be advertised — for example requiring the permit number in every listing?

      Unknown. We have not found an official source either way. It is never recorded as “not required” and never scored as zero — it is carried through the estimate as an explicit range and should be confirmed with the jurisdiction.

    • Lodging tax or feesConfirmed — applies

      Does an official source impose a lodging, excise, or permit fee obligation on the operator?

    How the category is set on the 0–100 scale: 80+ reads very high / effectively restricted and requires a documented severe market-access trigger; 60–79 reads high access constraints and requires a documented major access constraint (or two moderate ones); 40–59 reads moderate / structured, which is the ceiling for jurisdictions whose confirmed rules are operating requirements only; 20–39 reads lower regulatory burden; below 20 reads minimal STR-specific burden located. A documented official-source search that resolves criteria and finds no short-term-rental-specific requirement reads “no local STR-specific regulation located in reviewed official sources” — which is not a statement that operating here is unrestricted, legal, or low-risk. Unconfirmed criteria never count as permissive. How to confirm the rest yourself.

    Who to ask in City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

    Department-level contact details as published on the jurisdiction’s own website. We do not publish individual staff contact information.

    General research checklist (not City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina specific)

    These are the categories short-term rental owners check anywhere in the US. They are general prompts, not this jurisdiction’s ordinance.

    Occupancy limits
    Most jurisdictions tie maximum overnight occupancy to bedroom count, septic capacity, or a fixed cap. Confirm the current figure for your specific parcel with the City of Myrtle Beach before advertising a sleeping capacity.
    Parking
    On-site parking counts and prohibitions on street or shoulder parking are among the most commonly enforced short-term rental provisions. Verify the required count with the City of Myrtle Beach and state it plainly in your listing.
    Life-safety requirements
    Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, egress, and posted evacuation information are typical requirements. Some jurisdictions inspect; others self-certify. Verify which applies.
    Local responsible party
    Many ordinances require a named local contact who can respond to the property within a set time. Confirm whether a contact is required, what response window applies, and how it must be filed with the City of Myrtle Beach.
    Renewal and enforcement
    Registrations and permits generally renew on a fixed cycle, and enforcement is usually complaint-driven with escalating penalties. Confirm the renewal date, fee, and enforcement process with the City of Myrtle Beach.
    Lodging and sales tax
    State and local lodging or occupancy taxes may be collected by the booking platform, by you, or split. Confirm current collection responsibility with both the taxing authority and your platform — platform collection agreements change.

    Confirm these directly — we could not verify them

    We publish gaps rather than guesses. The following were not confirmable from a current official source at our last review.

    • Whether your specific zoning district permits short-term rental at all
    • Current short-term-rental licensing requirements — call Planning & Zoning at 843-918-1050; the city does not publish a single consolidated STR permit portal
    • City and county accommodations taxes and hospitality fees, and which ones your platform remits
    • Whether your address is inside the city limits or in unincorporated Horry County

    Official sources

    Government sources only. If a link has moved, go to the jurisdiction’s main site and search for short-term or vacation rentals.

    Change log

    • — Entry published. Official source links checked; no jurisdiction-specific ordinance text confirmed.

    Operating a rental here?

    Compliance is the owner’s responsibility in every model, including ours. What a co-host can do is keep the listing, messaging, and pricing consistent with the rules you confirm.

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    Found a change in City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?

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