City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Bluffton, SC
How Bluffton regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- STR-specific permit required prior to advertising/leasing/operating
- annual renewal; permit nontransferable (new owner must reapply)
- business license prerequisite to permit
- one off-street parking space per bedroom
- adjacent-owner notification required
- whole-home STR permitted by-right; no primary-residence/owner-occupancy requirement
- one STR unit per lot in most zoning districts
Based on: Code of Ordinances Ch. 6, Art. V (Short-Term Rentals); per-lot limit effective Jan 1, 2021
Summary of the rule
A Short-term Rental Unit Permit, as required by Chapter 6, Article V of the Town of Bluffton Code of Ordinances, must be obtained prior to advertising, leasing, or operating any dwelling unit as a Short-term Rental Unit.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 15, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Bluffton · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.