Is Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Good for Airbnb Investment?

Proceed only after the parcel county, zoning, tax registrations, flood exposure, and operating responsibilities are confirmed.

• Identify whether the address is in Georgetown County or Horry County.
• Obtain written zoning guidance for the parcel and proposed rental use.
• Price state and county tax obligations by booking channel.
• Keep a lawful long-term or personal-use fallback strategy.

Murrells Inlet spans Georgetown and Horry counties, so the mailing name alone does not identify the governing office.

• Locate the parcel in the appropriate county GIS before applying.
• Use the parcel record to confirm owner, tax map number, and jurisdiction.
• Do not rely on a nearby listing or neighborhood name for compliance.
• Save the GIS result and written county response in the deal file.

County zoning staff should classify the proposed rental use before the inspection period expires.

• Provide the exact address, parcel number, zoning district, and stay pattern.
• Ask whether a business, home-occupation, or other approval applies.
• Confirm parking, occupancy, signs, events, and accessory-unit limits.
• Make the purchase agreement contingent on a lawful operating path.

The operating requirements differ by county and by whether bookings are accepted directly or through a platform.

• Horry County requires zoning approval before issuing a business license.
• Ask Georgetown County offices which registrations apply to the parcel.
• Confirm whether an owner, manager, or local agent must hold the license.
• Calendar renewals and keep account numbers with the property records.

South Carolina and the applicable county can impose separate lodging-related taxes and filings.

• SCDOR generally taxes stays shorter than 90 consecutive days.
• The state framework combines 5% sales tax and 2% accommodations tax, plus applicable local taxes.
• Georgetown County publishes a 3% local accommodations tax.
• Confirm platform collection and direct-booking duties independently.

A lawful rental plan does not replace building, life-safety, or fire review for property changes.

• Ask the county whether renovations require permits and inspections.
• Confirm bedroom, egress, smoke-alarm, electrical, and septic capacity.
• Use the serving fire district for property-specific safety questions.
• Keep final permits and inspection records before accepting guests.

Coastal location makes address-level flood, storm, drainage, and insurance review essential.

• Check the current county flood tools and FEMA map by address.
• Obtain an elevation certificate when required or available.
• Price wind, flood, liability, and loss-of-income insurance before closing.
• Verify evacuation, access, utilities, and post-storm operating plans.

Public approval does not override deed restrictions, association rules, or private contracts.

• Match the listing to the county parcel and legal description.
• Review recorded deeds, plats, easements, liens, and restrictions.
• Read HOA or condominium rules and current budgets before relying on rental income.
• Confirm septic, parking, bedroom, and occupancy assumptions with records.

County and state offices control different parts of approval, taxation, safety review, and property operations.

• Use the county zoning and business-license offices for parcel-specific operating guidance.
• Use SCDOR for state registration, collection, filing, and remittance questions.
• Document cleaning, trash, parking, noise, emergency, and guest-response procedures.
• Recheck county rules before adding events, amenities, or direct bookings.

Use current government materials because forms, rates, boundaries, and procedures can change.

• Save dated copies of the county, state, tax, parcel, flood, and permit records used.
• Resolve conflicts by asking the office that administers the requirement.
• Refresh legal, tax, insurance, and operating review before closing and launch.
• Do not substitute neighboring listings for parcel-specific confirmation.