Can you run a short-term rental in Richland County, SC? Yes, with a license, but only in some zones. Since April 9, 2024, every short-term rental in unincorporated Richland County needs a county business license and must pay a 3% accommodations tax on rental revenue. The county's land development code, in effect since March 2024, only allows short-term rentals in limited mixed-use and commercial zones, so many residential addresses can't qualify. Properties inside the City of Columbia or another town follow that town's rules instead. Check your address's zoning before you list.