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Bed and Breakfast
Bed & Breakfast Use
A Bed and Breakfast is a conditional use whereby the record owner of a property, who is also the resident of the property, uses one (1) or more rooms per unit for one (1) to ten (10) bed and breakfast units for the purpose of providing sleeping accommodations for one family per unit for a period of between one (1) and twenty-nine (29) consecutive days. A bed and breakfast use shall only be permitted in compliance with the procedures and conditions in Section 54-227 of the Zoning Ordinance and after a bed and breakfast permit is issued by the City.
- A bed and breakfast use may be established in a dwelling unit as an accessory to the principal residential use, on any property located within the Short Term Rental Overlay Zone, and each approved bed and breakfast unit may be rented to one (1) family for a period of between one (1) and twenty-nine (29) consecutive days;
- The bed and breakfast shall be operated by the record owner of the subject property who also resides at the subject property at least 183 days each year;
- The number of bed and breakfast units shall not exceed four (4) units; except that a lot may have between four (4) and ten (10) bed and breakfast units if the total square footage of conditioned floor area in the building or buildings containing the bed and breakfast units is equal to or greater than the sum of the number of bed and breakfast units multiplied by 560, and all other requirements of this section are met. Each unit shall consist of one (1) or more rooms arranged for the purpose of providing sleeping accommodations for one (1) family;
- The principal building on the property on which the bed and breakfast use will be located shall have been constructed 50 or more years ago although the bed and breakfast unit(s) may be located in a building that was not constructed 50 or more years ago;
- Bed and breakfast unit(s) located in buildings constructed 50 or more years ago shall provide one (1) off street, maneuverable parking space on the subject property for each two (2) bed and breakfast units, or fraction thereof. Bed and breakfast unit(s) located in buildings not constructed 50 or more years ago shall provide one (1) off street, maneuverable parking space on the subject property for each bed and breakfast unit. Spaces required for the bed and breakfast unit(s) shall be in addition to providing, on the subject property, required off street parking for existing uses on the property; and
- The property shall be permitted to have one sign advertising the Bed and Breakfast. The permitted sign may have a maximum of two sides and no side shall exceed four (4) square feet in total sign face area;
- The bed and breakfast shall be located on property which is in compliance with allowed uses for the zone district in which the property is located;
- The bed and breakfast shall be operated by someone who has not had a bed and breakfast permit revoked within the previous twelve (12) months;
- No meals other than breakfast may be served by the resident owner to the paying guests.(b)
The resident owner shall keep a guest register including names, addresses, telephone numbers and dates of occupancy of all guests for three (3) years and shall make this available to the City upon request; - The resident owner shall comply with all business license and revenue collection laws of the City of Charleston, Charleston County and State of South Carolina.
- The bed and breakfast use shall not be expanded in any respect throughout the structure or structures, or elsewhere on the property nor shall the use be changed to any other use not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance without reapplication to and approval by the zoning administrator.
- All operators of bed and breakfast uses shall cooperate fully with the zoning administrator and his designees, including, but not limited to, providing pertinent information upon request and affording access to that portion of the premises which is used for the bed and breakfast use for reasonable site inspections.
- Bed & Breakfast uses existing prior to 2018 - All approved, legal bed and breakfast uses that are operating on or prior to April 10, 2018 are entitled to be in operation on the effective date of this ordinance shall be issued a bed and breakfast permit which shall be valid for one (1) year of issuance and shall be renewable annually unless revoked and shall adhere to all requirements.
- All bed and breakfast uses must apply for an operational permit and must have a business license. Renewals must be applied for on an annual basis before the operational permit expires. Change in ownership must submit an application for approval.
Zoning Ordinance Requirements
For a full breakdown of requirements, conditions, and violations visit the Zoning Ordinance Sec. 54-277 related to Bed & Breakfast Uses.