South Carolina has roughly ~620,000 renter-occupied units. Average DP-3 landlord premium runs $1,620/yr — about 25–30% above a comparable homeowners policy due to higher liability and vacancy risk. Market profile: Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville anchor the rental market; Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are major STR coastal destinations. Short-term rental climate: Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are among the East Coast's top STR markets; Charleston has growing STR regulation; state law generally supports STR activity.
Avg DP-3 Premium
$1,620/yr
Annual landlord/rental cost
Rental Units
~620,000 renter-occupied units
Renter-occupied housing
STR Climate
Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are among the East Coast's top STR markets; Charleston has growing STR regulation; state law generally supports STR activity
Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are among the East Coast's top STR markets; Charleston has growing STR regulation; state law generally supports STR activity
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Market profile | Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville anchor the rental market; Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are major STR coastal destinations | Drives coverage form selection |
| Top landlord carriers | State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Travelers, USAA | Specialized DP-3 underwriting |
| Short-term rental environment | Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are among the East Coast's top STR markets; Charleston has growing STR regulation; state law generally supports STR activity | Airbnb-specific coverage needed |
| Notable state law | South Carolina's landlord-tenant act has a five-day notice for non-payment; no statewide rent control; coastal counties face significant hurricane insurance challenges | Affects landlord obligations & coverage |
DP-3 (Dwelling Fire) is the standard landlord policy form, covering the structure on an open-perils basis. Landlords also need liability coverage (often $300K–$1M) and Loss of Rents (typically 12 months). Standard homeowners policies do NOT cover rental properties.
South Carolina has emerged as one of the Southeast's fastest-growing states, with Charleston experiencing dramatic appreciation and demographic transformation, Greenville establishing itself as a manufacturing and tech hub, and Columbia anchoring a stable university and government rental market. The state's 187-mile coastline — from Myrtle Beach in the north to Hilton Head in the south — is one of the East Coast's most economically significant vacation corridors and supports millions of annual tourist visits. Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Dorian (2019), and Ian (2022, crossing Florida into SC) have all caused significant South Carolina damage. The state's coastal insurance market has tightened considerably in recent years.
South Carolina coastal landlords face a challenging insurance environment. Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand properties typically require a combination of DP-3, separate wind/hurricane coverage (through WIND private market or the SC Wind and Hail Underwriting Association), and NFIP flood insurance. Hilton Head's premium property values drive high total insurance costs. Charleston's historic downtown properties present unique underwriting challenges given the irreplaceable historic construction. Inland landlords in Greenville and Columbia have much simpler insurance needs and more carrier availability. STR operators throughout coastal South Carolina — Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, Hilton Head, Fripp Island — need vacation rental-specific policies covering transient occupancy and hurricane income loss.
A DP-3 dwelling fire policy is the standard landlord form. Unlike an HO-3, it covers the building structure and landlord-owned contents (appliances, lawn equipment) — not the tenant's personal belongings. Tenants must carry their own renters insurance. DP-3 also includes loss of rents coverage (typically 12 months) if a covered loss makes the unit uninhabitable.
Standard DP-3 policies often exclude or limit short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO) use. Most landlord carriers either require an endorsement, a separate STR policy, or a commercial dwelling policy. Airbnb's "AirCover" host protection is NOT a substitute for your own policy — it has many exclusions and lower limits.
South Carolina's landlord-tenant act has a five-day notice for non-payment; no statewide rent control; coastal counties face significant hurricane insurance challenges
💡 South Carolina Pro Tip
South Carolina landlords in Columbia or Greenville typically pay $1,100–$1,700/year for DP-3 coverage. Charleston historic properties and coastal Lowcountry rentals face higher costs — $1,800–$3,500 — due to hurricane and flood exposure. Myrtle Beach oceanfront vacation rental properties with multi-policy wind and flood coverage can exceed $5,000/year for comprehensive protection.
No — standard landlord policies exclude transient-occupancy rentals. Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and the SC coast are among the East Coast's busiest STR markets. Vacation rental operators need dedicated policies covering transient occupancy, hurricane income loss, and high-season liability. Charleston STR hosts should verify compliance with local registration requirements.
South Carolina has no state requirement for landlord insurance. Mortgage lenders require coverage. SC Wind and Hail Underwriting Association coverage is typically required for coastal properties that cannot obtain wind coverage in the private market.
Rental unit counts from US Census American Community Survey; premium averages from 2026 carrier rate filings for South Carolina. Verify your specific property's coverage with a licensed agent.
Sarah Mitchell
Editorial Lead, Property & Casualty
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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