City of Charleston SC - AirBnB rules question

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City of Charleston SC - AirBnB rules question

Rene M.
Charleston, SC · Member since 2019 · 32 posts · 6 votes

Hi all,

I am currently trying to research the STR rental regulation on the peninsula/city and came across a question I couldn't find an answer to.

So I would live and own a triplex (fulfills the 4% tax rule) and have 3 designated off-street parking spots (is there a definition for a parking spot? Or does it just have to be a big enough designated area off the street where a car could park? Also 3 spots per unit or in total?)

Would I be able to rent one or both of the other units out as STRs as I live on the same property or does it physically have to be in the same apartment I rent out? 

I know there is a 4 people max, if I would each unit with 2 people max. would that be allowed?

Any guidance is appreciated

Thank you!

Rene

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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
7y

boy I would not be fishing around the internet for this info it should take all of 30 minutes to get all these questions answered by simply walking into the planning department and talking with a planner as they walk you through the regs.. 

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  • Jake Miller
    Flipper · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2016 · 83 posts · 40 votes
    7y

    Sounds like something the city of charleston housing and rental office would likely be able to answer this pretty easily.

    1Reply
  • Jeffrey Stasz
    Investor · Charleston , SC · Member since 2014 · 160 posts · 142 votes
    7y

    It will depend on the area and corresponding category. Category 1 the house will need to be on the National Historic Register. Category 2 the house needs to be older then 50 years old and owner occupied. Category 3 is pretty much a free for all. 

    There is no connection between parking and STR.

    Parking is a zoning issue and occupancy load issue. If you are already zoned as a triplex then parking rules do not apply. 

    1Reply
  • Rene M.
    OP
    Charleston, SC · Member since 2019 · 32 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    Thank you @Jake Miller and @Jeffrey Stasz

    The building is Cat 2 and built in 2000... so i guess no STR at all.

    But lets say the building would be 50 years old and in Cat2 I could rent out one of the apartments as it is on the same property (1 STR per property is max)?

    My question regarding parking spots is still open. I don't know how they define parking spot. Why do you mean that parking rules don't apply for a triplex?

    Thanks

    Rene

    0Reply
  • Rene M.
    OP
    Charleston, SC · Member since 2019 · 32 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    Any legal experts what counts for the building year?

    The property used to be a residential garage and was built in 2000... Anyone an idea if i can use the garage age as property age?

    0Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    7y

    boy I would not be fishing around the internet for this info it should take all of 30 minutes to get all these questions answered by simply walking into the planning department and talking with a planner as they walk you through the regs.. 

    Podcast Guest on Show #222
    JLH Capital Partners51 Review
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Ken Latchers
    Hatfield, PA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 629 votes
    7y

    I agree. Talk to zoning/code enforcement, don't torment or trust those you don't know. 

    This is not really an appropriate question here

    1Reply
  • Whitney Coleman
    Charleston, SC · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    Just as an FYI, I currently house hack a quadplex in Charleston (29407), only your unit will be accessed at 4%, the units that you rent out will be accessed at 6%. 

    2Reply
  • Danny RandazzoPro Member
    Apartment Syndicator · Charleston, SC · Member since 2016 · 973 posts · 728 votes
    7y

    @Rene M. you may want to connect with @Troy Gandee I know he has experience with this

    1Reply
  • Rene M.
    OP
    Charleston, SC · Member since 2019 · 32 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    Thank you very much for this very helpful insight @Whitney Coleman

    Also many thanks to you @Danny Randazzo- I will get in touch with him!

    0Reply
  • Troy GandeeBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Charleston, SC · Member since 2013 · 795 posts · 454 votes
    7y

    @Rene M. I agree with @Jay Hinrichs. Just call down to the zoning, code and permitting office at George St and ask them the specifics. They're actually VERY helpful if you just ask for help. What @Jeffrey Stasz means is that you don't have to try to apply for new parking approval since the property is already legally a triplex. Most of the zoning downtown is that you must provide 1.5 parking spaces per unit to meet the parking requirements for multifamily (this depends on area, but it's a good generic rule), but you already have your 3 meters, so you don't need to worry about that. Whatever you have is grandfathered in. That still doesn't mean you'll have sufficient parking, but if each of those units is a legal address (A, B, C), then you should be able to get 1 on-street parking pass per unit in that neighborhood, which would free up the off-street spaces for other tenants or yourself. It doesn't sound like you'll meet the STR requirements, so I wouldn't even try there. You can ask them if you're already going to call about the parking, but they're inundated with permit requests and approvals for Cat 3 properties at the moment.

    2Reply
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