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Charleston County BZA approves two extended-home rental permits amid neighbor concerns about housing and parking
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved two special exceptions allowing extended home (short-term) rentals at properties on South Pinebark Lane and Walter Drive, with staff conditions including a 144-day limit and noise compliance. Neighbors raised housing-supply and parking concerns during the hearings.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 3 approved two special exceptions allowing non-owner-occupied extended home rentals at 1527 South Pinebark Lane (St. Andrews) and 3291 Walter Drive (Johns Island), attaching the four standard conditions recommended by staff: completion of required site-plan review, compliance with Article 6.8 of the county ordinance, a 144-day annual limit on short-term rental use, and adherence to the county noise ordinance.
Staff told the board both properties met most of the technical criteria for a special exception and presented recommended conditions to reduce neighborhood impacts. After staff summarized facts and conditions, the applicants spoke. At the South Pinebark Lane hearing, applicant Eran Maron said the renovated home sits on about a half-acre, has fencing and heavy shrubbery, and that he would self-manage the property and provide neighbors with a local contact number. “We want to be good with the neighbors,” Maron said.
At the Walter Drive hearing, the applicant described large bedrooms, a fenced lot and a long driveway. He said the request for a 10-guest cap reflected an attempt to offset the licensing limit of 144 nights per year: “Because the license is so limited with 144 nights, we want to try and maximize the profit,” he said.
Opponents urged caution. Austin Blankenship, speaking in public comment on the Walter Drive case, argued short-term rentals reduce the supply of housing for residents: “Part of why we have this economy and housing crisis is because we have people buying up these properties and changing them into an Airbnb,” he said.
Board members pressed applicants on parking and neighbor outreach. Applicants said they would provide contact numbers to adjacent homeowners, rely on Airbnb/VRBO guest screening and use property monitoring to enforce rules. One board member noted built‑in enforcement: the county permit is annual and may not be renewed if complaints mount.
Both motions to approve were seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff told the applicants they would receive follow-up information about next steps within 10 days.
What’s next: The approvals are conditional on staff site-plan review and compliance with county rules. Any neighbor or party wishing to appeal the decisions would need to file in circuit court per state statute.
