Columbia Short-Term Rental Regulations

New to short-term rentals? Jump to the compliance checklist →

Permit & Licensing

Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit (owner-occupied)

The property must be your primary residence. This means investment properties are not eligible for this permit type.

Zoning restriction: Exempt from the residential-district arterial/collector road frontage requirement — owner-occupied STRs may locate in any residential district regardless of street classification.

Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit (non-owner-occupied)

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: In residential base zoning districts, permitted only on a parcel with frontage on a street with 4 through lanes classified as Major Arterial, Minor Arterial, or Collector on the city's Comprehensive Plan transportation map; permitted by right in Mixed-Use, Activity Center, Corridor, and Employment Campus districts.

Application Process

Apply online through the city's Tolemi-based Short-Term Rental portal. Applicants must first obtain Zoning Approval and a Business License before submitting the final STR application; the city issues the permit within 30 days if the application is complete, fees are paid, and (if a safety inspection is deemed necessary) the unit passes inspection.

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 12% of gross rental income.

Collection: Self-remittance model — the STR operator/business is liable for collecting and remitting the City's 3% Tourism Development Fee monthly; state Sales & Accommodations Tax is filed with SCDOR (a Retail License is required for hosts who book directly rather than exclusively through a platform)

Filing: Monthly, due by the 20th of the following month (state Accommodations Tax via SCDOR MyDORWAY; City Tourism Development Fee via the city's self-service portal, also due the 20th)

Rental Limits

Columbia does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.

Occupancy & Density Limits

2 persons per bedroom (excluding minor children) plus 2 additional people per dwelling unit

Zoning & Restrictions

• Short-term rentals are permitted by right in Mixed-Use, Activity Center, Corridor, and Employment Campus zoning districts.
• In residential base zoning districts, non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed only on parcels fronting a street with 4 through lanes classified as Major Arterial, Minor Arterial, or Collector on the city's Comprehensive Plan transportation map; owner-occupied STRs are exempt from this frontage requirement.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Liability insurance is required for the property's use as a short-term rental, though the required coverage amount is not publicly specified.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Applicant self-certifies at application that the dwelling unit complies with all applicable fire and building codes
• City may require a safety inspection with 24-hour notice to the permit holder if deemed necessary
• Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit must be designated, with guests notified of the parking plan and maximum vehicles allowed

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Operating without a valid permit: $500 administrative penalty if not obtained within 15 days of a notice of noncompliance (Sec. 5-410)
• Violations accrue points toward revocation: 1 point (1st offense), 5 points (2nd and each subsequent offense within 12 months), 10 points (serious offense endangering health/safety)
• $100 fee assessed per point accumulated
• 15 or more points within a 12-month period triggers revocation proceedings before the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals
• A revoked permit holder cannot reapply for the same dwelling unit for 6 months; a unit revoked more than once may never receive a new STR permit
• Late renewal (submitted after July 1) incurs a $100 late fee

Platform Requirements

Online listings/advertisements must display the current city-issued STR permit number within the listing description

Market Snapshot

Demand context for Columbia from official government and tourism statistics — the latest published annual figures, not a projection of rental income.

Figures are the latest annual statistics published by the linked official sources (retrieved 2026-07-13). Visitor counts cover the geography stated by each source, which can be wider than the city itself. Regulations above — not market conditions — determine whether and how you may operate.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Columbia:

1. Determine your permit type. Columbia has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit (owner-occupied), Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit (non-owner-occupied)).
2. Meet safety requirements. Applicant self-certifies at application that the dwelling unit complies with all applicable fire and building codes. City may require a safety inspection with 24-hour notice to the permit holder if deemed necessary. Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit must be designated, with guests notified of the parking plan and maximum vehicles allowed.
3. Obtain liability insurance. Required for property's use as a short-term rental.
4. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit — Owner-Occupied $160; Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit — Non-Owner-Occupied $310. See permit types above to determine which applies.
5. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with South Carolina Department of Revenue — state Sales & Accommodations Tax; City of Columbia Business Licensing Division — Tourism Development Fee.
6. Display your permit number. Include your permit/license number in all listings and advertisements.
7. Collect and remit taxes. 12% on all bookings.
8. Renew annually. Renewal fees vary by permit type ($160 / $310). See permit types above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Columbia?

Yes. Columbia requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types — one requires the property to be your primary residence, and another allows non-owner-occupied (investment) use. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Columbia?

Permit costs in Columbia range from $160 to $310 depending on the permit type.

Does Columbia require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

It depends on the permit type. At least one Columbia permit requires the property to be your primary residence, while another allows non-owner-occupied (investment) use — see the permit types above.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Columbia?

Columbia does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Columbia?

Short-term rental stays in Columbia are subject to a combined 12% in lodging taxes. This combines 5% SC State Sales Tax + 2% SC State Accommodations Tax + 2% Richland County Local Option & Transportation Tax + 3% City of Columbia Tourism Development Fee. Hosts are legally responsible; many booking platforms collect and remit them automatically on the host's behalf.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Columbia?

Penalties run up to $500 (see the Penalties section for the full schedule).