Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Daufuskie Island, SC?

• Yes. Short-Term Rentals are allowed on Daufuskie Island, but they are strictly regulated under the Proposed Daufuskie Island Development Code (adopted by Island Council October 18, 2022; ratifying/approval by Beaufort County Council required).
• STR use must be authorized by zoning (Special Use in residential and Historic District transects; Conditional Use in mixed-use residential-commercial and commercial zones), then a Short-Term Rental Property (STRP) Permit and a Business License are required. Operating without these is prohibited.
• Accessory structures (e.g., tiny homes, cabins, shipping containers, RVs, etc.) cannot be used as STRs.
• These provisions expire four years after ratification by Beaufort County and will be subject to further review thereafter.

Key nuances for investors:

• Daufuskie Island has two primary rental “worlds”: private gated communities (e.g., Haig Point, Melrose), which have their own rental rules, and the Historic District (outside private gates), which is governed by the county/Island STR codes detailed here.
• STR use is treated as a land use (zoning) first; the STRP permit and business license are operational authorizations layered on top.
• Permit renewals are annual; property transfers require a new application (permits are not transferable).

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

Start by mapping the regulatory process into three phases:

1. Land use/zoning authorization
2. Operational authorization (STRP permit + Business License)
3. Ongoing compliance (posting, advertising, occupancy, renewals)

Phase 1 — Land Use/Zoning Authorization

• Confirm your property’s zoning/transect:
  • Residential Transect DI-2R and General Neighborhood Transect D3-GN: requires a Special Use Permit (reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals, public hearing).
  • Mixed-Use Residential-Commercial Transect DI-5GC, Commercial Zones, and “Village Centers”: requires a Conditional Use Permit (administrative approval by the Community Development Department Director).
• If the zoning use is approved (Special Use or Conditional Use), proceed to Phase 2. If the property is in a gated community, follow that community’s internal rules in parallel.

Phase 2 — Operational Authorization

• Obtain a Short-Term Rental Property (STRP) Permit for the STR use.
• Obtain a Business License for the property.
• Required inspections and coverage:
  • Property inspection by a licensed South Carolina Home Inspector at least every three years; in interim renewal years, submit an affidavit attesting that no changes have occurred that would affect life/safety codes.
  • Public liability insurance minimum: $500,000.

Phase 3 — Ongoing Compliance

• Post tenant notices and signage.
• Include the STRP Permit Number in all advertisements.
• Monitor occupancy, parking, trash, noise compliance; respond to complaints as required.
• Renew the STRP Permit annually by April 1; renew the Business License according to county requirements.

Practical notes for Daufuskie Island:

• Public meetings for the Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals are held Thursday at 5 p.m. Applicants may participate via Zoom (county allowed historically; check with the Zoning Department).
• The county’s fee schedule is linked below; the application process and forms are managed by the County’s Community Development Department. The STRP permit is separate from any zoning application fees and renews annually.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Short-Term Rental Property Permit (STRP) application checklist:

• Owner information: name, address, email, and telephone number for all property owners.
• Application form: completed and signed by all current property owners. Corporate/partnership properties must submit a resolution authorizing the applicant to act on behalf of the entity.
• Address and Property Identification Number.
• Dwelling unit type: proof it is a legally permitted dwelling unit with complete independent housekeeping facilities (living/sleeping, eating/cooking, sanitation). RVs, campers, tents, shipping containers, and motor vehicles are not considered dwelling units.
• Maximum number of bedrooms in the STR unit(s).
• Property inspection certificate: executed by a licensed South Carolina Home Inspector (required every three years). Interim renewals require an affidavit attesting no changes affecting life/safety codes.
• Insurance certificate: public liability coverage of at least $500,000.
• Tax and fee compliance: documentation that all property taxes and fees are current.
• Restricted covenants affidavit(s): in compliance with state law.
• Application fee (per county fee schedule).

Business License

• Required to operate an STR on Daufuskie Island. Submit directly to Beaufort County Business Services; coordinate with the STRP application timing.

Signage and postings (required at the property and inside each rental room):

• Tenant notice in each room where STR tenants may lodge, including:
  • Owner contact information.
  • STRP Permit Number.
  • Trash collection location and schedules (if applicable).
  • Fire and emergency evacuation routes.
• Permanent 8.5" x 11" weatherproof sign at the entrance displaying:
  • Street address.
  • STRP License Number.
  • 24-hour emergency contact’s name and telephone number.
• Prominently posted “Good Neighbor Notice” detailing local rules:
  • Golf cart age limits.
  • Leash laws.
  • “Lights out” during turtle nesting season.
  • Reference to Beaufort County noise ordinance.

Advertising:

• All STR advertisements (platforms, internet listings, printed materials) must include the County-issued STRP Permit Number.

Annual renewal:

• STRP Permits must be renewed annually.
• Renewal notice is mailed by the end of January; the STRP Permit expires April 1 (regardless of whether notice is received). Renewal requires:
  • Application fee.
  • Affidavits confirming all taxes/fees are current.
  • Notarized owner affidavit confirming STR use and information remains unchanged and complies with the latest Article; a legible photo ID may be substituted for notarized signature.
  • If site/use changes affect the prior zoning authorization, a new STRP permit and related zoning applications may be required.

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals on Daufuskie Island

Zoning and permitting context

• Short-Term Rentals are regulated under the Proposed Daufuskie Island Development Code (B.3.30).
• Existing STRs legally operating in 2020 under a Conditional Use Permit in DI-2R and D3-GN were allowed to continue; new STRs in these transects require a Special Use Permit.
• In DI-5GC, commercial zones, and “village centers,” a Conditional Use Permit is required.
• The provisions expire four years after ratification by Beaufort County and are subject to further review.

Use limitations and standards

• Permitted units: Legally permitted Principal Dwelling Units and Accessory Dwelling Units may be used as STRs (even on the same property). Accessory Structures cannot be used as STRs.
• Parking: Must comply with Division 3.2 of the Beaufort County Community Development Code.
• Signage: Advertising signage for STRs is prohibited in Residential Zoning Districts.
• Occupancy: Maximum occupancy is two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults. Persons aged 12+ count as adults; children under 12 do not count against the maximum.
• Complaints and response: Owner or designated agent must respond to noise complaints within one hour; all other complaints within 24 hours. The designated agent must be identified on the permit application and posted inside the rental.
• Trash and outdoor containers: Must have a plan for proper disposal and removal; outdoor containers must be secured to avoid spills, animal intrusion, and unsightliness.
• Advertising: Must include the County-issued STRP Permit Number.
• Non-transferability: STRP Permits are not transferable when a property is sold; new owners must apply anew.

Enforcement and violations

• Revocation: A STRP permit may be administratively revoked if three or more violations occur within 12 months. Immediate revocation is possible if there are Building Code violations, no Business License, the property is used inconsistently with the STRP permit, or if the STRP is advertised without the permit number.
• Appeals: Denials or revocations may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals within 30 days, following Chapter 3, Article 3.13 procedures.
• Post-revocation waiting period: After revocation, no new STRP permit or Business License may be issued for the same property for one year. Waivers are possible if the property is sold to a new owner with no affiliation to the previous owner and a $500 penalty is paid.

Compliance alignment

• Outside Daufuskie Island’s Historic District, private communities (e.g., Haig Point, Melrose) impose their own rental rules; those take precedence within those communities. Investors should confirm community-level restrictions separately.

Contact Information

Beaufort County Community Development — Zoning (STR and zoning permits)

• Email: shorttermrentals@bcgov.net
• Website: www.beaufortcountysc.gov/zoning/Short-Term%20Rentals.html
• Fee schedule: www.beaufortcountysc.gov/planning/documents/Revised-Fees---Final-Approved-by-County-Council.pdf
• Zoning Board of Appeals: www.beaufortcountysc.gov/zoning-appeals-board/index.html
• Full Community Development Code ( ordinances/zoning standards): library.municode.com/sc/beaufort_county/codes/community_development_code

Beaufort County Business Services (Business License)

• www.beaufortcountysc.gov/business-services/
• Phone directory: www.beaufortcountysc.gov/about/phone-listing.html

Daufuskie Island Ferry (scheduling considerations for meetings/logistics)

• Public ferry and information are typically referenced via Beaufort County public access pages and the county website’s ferry-related content. Contact the county for the current operator schedule if planning in-person meetings.

Links to Source Pages

• Official Daufuskie Island STR recommendation (Proposed Development Code B.3.30): www.officialdaufuskie.com/wp-content/uploads/filr/5743/202212_STR_%20Reccomendation.pdf
• Island Packet reporting on Daufuskie Island STR code adoption and controversy (Dec. 2022): www.islandpacket.com/news/politics-government/article270285347.html
• Beaufort County — Short-Term Rentals page (applications, contact, and links): www.beaufortcountysc.gov/zoning/Short-Term%20Rentals.html
• Island Packet reporting on STRs becoming a controversy on Daufuskie Island (Sept. 2022): www.islandpacket.com/news/business/article266292301.html
• Beaufort County — Community Development Code (full code library): library.municode.com/sc/beaufort_county/codes/community_development_code
• Beaufort County — Fee Schedule (permits, applications, renewals): www.beaufortcountysc.gov/planning/documents/Revised-Fees---Final-Approved-by-County-Council.pdf
• Beaufort County Zoning Board of Appeals (appeals process): www.beaufortcountysc.gov/zoning-appeals-board/index.html

Notes for investors:

• Treat these rules as the regulatory baseline for STR operations in the Historic District outside private gates. Private communities maintain separate regimes that supersede county rules inside their boundaries.
• Because the code’s STR provisions expire four years post-ratification, investors should plan for potential code updates or replacements thereafter.
• Document all compliance efforts (posting, advertising, renewals, complaint logs, insurance) to reduce enforcement risk and streamline renewals.