Lexington, SC 12/05/2024 (Paul Kirby) – Lexington County will start phasing in its new regulations on Short-Term Rentals beginning January 1, 2025. This ordinance was passed last year after problems began to arise with garbage use, the number of cars parked at homes, late night social events, and other issues associated with a large number of people using homes or apartments as a place to stay for a short period of time.
Short-Term Rentals are defined as one or more rooms in a residential building or residential portion of a building, which are arranged, designed, used, or intended for use by one or more persons living together and maintaining a common household, and which shall include a lawful cooking space and lawful sanitary facilities reserved for occupants that are rented at least a few days, a weekend, or up to 29 days. Think about an Airbnb during a USC home game or a lake house rented for a week each summer.
These new regulations cover these types of structures in the unincorporated areas of Lexington County. Incorporated areas such as towns or cities may have their own regulations of these types of rentals, and you should check with those entities if you have a home or apartment within their incorporated limits. Before adding your home or apartment to one of the available apps or websites that match renters or guests with these types of rentals or the host, you must read and understand the rules and regulations.
People who use their homes or apartments for Short-Term Rentals will need to obtain a Zoning Permit beginning January 1, 2025. There is a small fee for these that is established by Lexington County’s Council. There are other provisions that limit the age of the person making the rental reservations, and how many cars can be parked on a property. Permits may be revoked if all of the provisions of the ordinances are not followed. The host is responsible for making sure that the renter knows and follows the provisions of this ordinance.
In order to fully understand this ordinance, and keep yourself on the right side of this law, follow this link Short-Term Rental Guidelines and scroll to page 121.
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