Folly BeachShort-term rental rules

Additional vacation and regional market / South Carolina

Folly Beach separates owner-occupied and investment STR licenses. An ordinary buyer needs a new license.

Research reviewed Oct 31, 2026. Primary sources linked.

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Does the operating permit transfer?: New application
New owners must apply for a new license. A specific inheritance exception has its own conditions and deadline; it is not an ordinary-sale exception.
Can the land-use approval continue?: Verify the property approval
The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
Can this buyer obtain approval?: An investment STR can be subject to the cap and waitlist. A seller license does not reserve an allocation for the buyer.
License or registration: The city states that STR licenses are nontransferable. Owner-occupied and investment categories use different eligibility criteria.
Application availability: Waitlist process published
Use the dedicated waitlist page and confirm present processing status. Published phases do not establish that a buyer can receive a license now.
Timing to verify: No sale-specific deadline was established in this summary. Ask the issuing office about filing, renewal and any interruption in operation.
Changes and uncertainty: The dedicated waitlist page describes phases opened in 2024, while an older FAQ still discusses a future opening. Confirm current allocations directly.

What this means for the appraisal

Obtain the buyer application requirements and confirm the earliest approved operating date before assuming continuity of rental income.
Verify the property’s land-use approval and continuation conditions. Research finding: Verify the property approval.
Check the proposed buyer against the recorded requirements: An investment STR can be subject to the cap and waitlist. A seller license does not reserve an allocation for the buyer.
In the assignment analysis, identify the evidence supporting the proposed rental use, any operating interruption and any unresolved assumptions.

Use these prompts to plan the property review. The appraiser must evaluate the evidence and reach the assignment-specific conclusions.

Record the property evidence in a worksheet

Request documents from the owner or agent

Copy this market-specific request, add the property address and edit it for the assignment.

Read or select the document request

Document request for Folly Beach

Subject: STR property document request | Folly Beach, SC

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: New owners must apply for a new license. A specific inheritance exception has its own conditions and deadline; it is not an ordinary-sale exception.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: An investment STR can be subject to the cap and waitlist. A seller license does not reserve an allocation for the buyer.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Use the dedicated waitlist page and confirm present processing status. Published phases do not establish that a buyer can receive a license now.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
Folly Beach STR license program: https://cityoffollybeach.com/business/business_licenses/short_term_rentals_str/index.php
Folly Beach current STR waitlist information: https://cityoffollybeach.com/departments/short-term_rental_waitlist.php

Subject: STR property document request | Folly Beach, SC

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: New owners must apply for a new license. A specific inheritance exception has its own conditions and deadline; it is not an ordinary-sale exception.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: An investment STR can be subject to the cap and waitlist. A seller license does not reserve an allocation for the buyer.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Use the dedicated waitlist page and confirm present processing status. Published phases do not establish that a buyer can receive a license now.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
Folly Beach STR license program: https://cityoffollybeach.com/business/business_licenses/short_term_rentals_str/index.php
Folly Beach current STR waitlist information: https://cityoffollybeach.com/departments/short-term_rental_waitlist.php

Research and guide updates

Oct 31, 2026 Research record: Research recorded for this market. Primary sources linked. See the findings, open questions and official sources below.
Nov 1, 2026 Guide tools: Added assignment prompts, a document request and consistent research questions. This tool update does not change the market research date.

Changes and uncertainty to verify

The dedicated waitlist page describes phases opened in 2024, while an older FAQ still discusses a future opening. Confirm current allocations directly.

Sources and research limits

The sale summary cites official code, program guidance or a court record. Read its scope and any remaining questions; it is not a parcel determination.

Use this summary to identify the documents and questions for a property review. A seller's rental history alone does not establish a buyer's permission to operate.

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