Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide (2026)

Begin with the exact parcel, City jurisdiction, short-term-rental zoning eligibility, business licensing, lodging-tax accounts, lawful occupancy, and private restrictions before modeling a rental.

• Confirm the parcel is inside Myrtle Beach city limits.
• Obtain written zoning confirmation that rentals under 90 days are allowed.
• Confirm the dwelling and sleeping areas have lawful approvals.
• Register the rental business and applicable tax accounts.
• Review HOA, deed, lease, lender, and insurer restrictions separately.
• Model receipts and expenses from property-specific evidence rather than market-wide projections.

City rules make zoning the first gate. Plan a Myrtle Beach Property Strategy Call to organize parcel, licensing, tax, safety, and operating evidence before acquisition.

Every rental-property owner operating inside Myrtle Beach must obtain a City business license. The license does not override zoning, building, fire, tax, or private restrictions.

• Apply through the City Business License Division.
• Link an existing account or create an online profile in the City portal.
• Renew by April 30 to avoid the City’s published late penalties.
• Keep ownership, address, and contact information current.
• Confirm classification and fees directly with the division.
• Maintain the license while the rental business operates.

The Business License Division publishes applications, renewal timing, office details, and contact information.

A business license and zoning answer do not establish that a unit, converted bedroom, occupancy plan, or alteration complies with building and fire requirements.

• Confirm lawful dwelling and sleeping-room use.
• Keep smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide alarms, extinguishers, and egress appropriate to the property.
• Ask Construction Services about permits and inspections for alterations or changes of use.
• Ask the Fire Marshal about address-specific fire review.
• Do not advertise occupancy beyond lawful sleeping capacity.
• Keep emergency access, exits, and safety equipment unobstructed.

Myrtle Beach Construction Services handles building and property-maintenance questions, while the Fire Marshal’s Office handles fire inspections.

Myrtle Beach administers local accommodations-tax and hospitality accounts in addition to state-administered taxes. The exact stack depends on the address, taxable charge, and booking channel.

• Confirm the City local accommodations-tax account.
• Confirm the hospitality-fee treatment for transient accommodations.
• Use the City’s current forms and portal rather than an old rate summary.
• Separate City remittances from SCDOR filings.
• Check whether a marketplace handles any component.
• Reconcile gross receipts across platform and direct bookings.

The City Business License Division collects local accommodations tax and hospitality fees and answers account questions.

Route each question to the office that controls the decision. No private consultant can replace City zoning, licensing, building, fire, tax, or enforcement approval.

• Zoning eligibility: Planning and Zoning, 843-918-1050, City Services Building, 921 North Oak Street.
• Business license and City taxes: buslic@cityofmyrtlebeach.com or 843-918-1200; use the City portal.
• Building and property maintenance: Construction Services, 843-918-1111.
• Fire inspections: Fire Marshal’s Office, firemarshal@cityofmyrtlebeach.com or 843-918-1109.
• State tax: use the SCDOR accommodations-tax channel.
• Property selection and setup: book an STR Search strategy call. The City remains the authority for legal eligibility and approvals.

Use the City’s Planning staff directory and published department pages to verify current routing before filing.