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Enforcement is ramping up — apply now.
As of June 30, 2026, only 1,630 of an estimated 7,400 Hilton Head STRs have an approved permit. The Town has added 6 full-time enforcement staff and 3 new enforcement vehicles. An application in progress does not protect you from fines.
Your complete guide to the Town's per-bedroom permit fee, the October 2025 fire-safety and operating rules, HOA and community-level registration, and the accommodations tax obligations that run separately from the permit itself.
Register My PropertyHilton Head Island is its own incorporated town within Beaufort County and sets its own short-term rental rules separate from the county. Its Short-Term Rental Ordinance — first adopted in January 2023 and substantially amended by Town Council in October 2025 — applies to any privately owned residential property rented for periods under 30 days.
Registration runs through the Town's online permit portal (built on the GovOS/MuniRevs platform); accommodations tax accounts run separately through Revenue Services. Unlike jurisdictions that split STRs into zoning categories, Hilton Head's permit requirement applies the same way across the island — but many communities layer their own registration on top of the Town's.
Note on citations — the Town's own website in places still references pre-amendment language and fee amounts. Where the Town's current published guidance and older secondary sources differ, we've flagged it below rather than guess.
All operators apply through the Town's online permit portal. A Business License must be active before the STR permit application can even be completed — starting the application first is one of the most common causes of rejection.
Five minutes — property address, bedroom count, and ownership status.
We confirm your HOA status and whether the property sits in Palmetto Dunes or Sea Pines, which require a separate community-level registration on top of the Town permit.
We contact Town STR staff to obtain these and set up your permit portal profile.
We confirm your $10/year Business License is active, calculate your $150-per-bedroom permit fee, and prepare your site plan (single-family homes only) and HOA letter.
Application submitted and fee paid; the Town reviews and inspects. The stated review window is up to 30 days — given the 2026 application backlog, actual review time may run longer until the backlog clears (Town officials have estimated September 2026).
One Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
library.municode.com — Hilton Head STR Ordinance
Disclaimer
Lodge Compliance is not a licensed tax, legal, or financial advisor. Nothing in this guide should be construed as tax, legal, or financial advice. Contact the Town of Hilton Head Island Short-Term Rental Program, Revenue Services, or your own tax/legal counsel for guidance regarding your personal circumstances. Sources: Town of Hilton Head Island Short-Term Rental Ordinance (adopted January 2023; amended October 2025 by Town Council); Town of Hilton Head Island STR Permit Requirements, FAQ, and Ordinance pages (hiltonheadislandsc.gov); Town of Hilton Head Island Accommodations Tax & Beach Preservation Fee page. Items flagged in this guide — including the exact combined tax rate, the codified penalty citation, Certificate of Occupancy scope, Business License Office direct contact, the current hotline number, and the current permit portal URL — could not be confirmed to an exact codified citation or current figure at time of writing and should be verified directly with the Town before being relied on for a specific filing or application.
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