Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Hilton Head Island. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.
The Town of Hilton Head Island rewrote its short-term rental ordinance (Title 10, Chapter 2) effective May 1, 2026, requiring per-property permits at $150/bedroom/year, removing overnight occupancy caps, and capping exterior parking at six spaces; applications must be in a person's name (no LLCs).
Have a specific property in mind? Analyze it with a $99 report →Hilton Head's STR framework was materially rewritten by Town Council in October 2025 with an effective date of May 1, 2026. Every STR property needs (1) an active Town business license, (2) a short-term rental permit at $150 per bedroom per year, and (3) an HOA authorization letter if the property is inside an HOA that regulates STRs. Permits must be issued in a natural-person name - no corporate or LLC ownership at the permit level. Exterior driveway parking is capped at six vehicles. Homes 3,600 sqft or larger must meet approved fire-safety systems and smoke-detection standards. Overnight occupancy caps were REMOVED in the 2025 rewrite. Every listing (Airbnb, VRBO, direct site) must display the STR permit number. Penalty schedule: $250 first offense, $500 second, $1,000 subsequent. Beaufort County has no additional STR-specific ordinance for the Hilton Head Plantation and Palmetto Dunes areas beyond zoning; verify HOA covenants (Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Plantation) before offer as private community rules often add minimum-stay and rental-frequency constraints.
Short-term rentals in Hilton Head Island are classified as mixed as of 2026-08-16. The Town of Hilton Head Island rewrote its short-term rental ordinance (Title 10, Chapter 2) effective May 1, 2026, requiring per-property permits at $150/bedroom/year, removing overnight occupancy caps, and capping exterior parking at six spaces; applications must be in a person's name (no LLCs).
No, Hilton Head Island does not enforce a numeric permit cap based on primary sources reviewed. No numeric town-wide permit cap in Title 10, Chapter 2 as rewritten in 2025 (effective May 1, 2026). Practical constraints are HOA-permission letters for HOA properties, six-vehicle exterior parking cap, and fire-safety inspection for homes 3,600+ sqft.
The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.
Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.
Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.
Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Hilton Head Island — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.