🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Forest Acres, SC
City Plans New Overlay Districts, Tightens Rules on STRs and Drive-Throughs
Forest Acres Puts STRs on the Map with New Rules
If you’ve noticed bright yellow signs popping up around Forest Acres, they’re not just for show. They’re signals of big changes on the horizon for the city’s zoning rules—the first major overhaul in decades. And tucked inside those proposed updates is a piece that short-term rental hosts and neighbors alike should pay close attention to: brand-new rules for STRs.
Right now, Forest Acres is a bit of the “Wild West” when it comes to short-term rentals. There are no specific requirements, no permits, no city tracking—essentially, no rulebook. That could soon change. Under the new proposal, STR operators would be required to register their properties with the city.
Registration would mean City Hall knows where STRs are located and who’s responsible if issues come up. Operators would also need to designate a point of contact, giving officials someone to call directly if complaints arise.
Mayor Thomas Andrews summed it up simply: the city isn’t banning STRs, but it’s setting some guardrails.
“We’re now going to require them to be registered with the city and have someone that we can call if there’s a problem,” he said. “Then we can begin to track those and see how many are in Forest Acres.”
Residents seem on board with the idea of regulation, even if they’re not keen on an outright ban. Longtime resident Michelle Betette said she thinks STRs have a place in the community—but only with some structure.
“At least some basic standards and continuity in place so it’s not the Wild West,” she said. “I think they should maybe have to register with the city, fill out an application or something like that.”
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For council, it’s all about balance—protecting neighborhoods while giving property owners flexibility. Councilman Stephen Oliver said the zoning overhaul as a whole is designed to reduce traffic headaches, protect residential investments, and keep the “residential feeling” that people value. Adding oversight for STRs fits that same mold.
The plan is still in draft form, and the City Council is eager to hear community feedback. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday night at City Hall, and the first reading of the ordinance could come in September.
For STR hosts, the writing is on the wall: registration and accountability are coming. For residents, it may mean more peace of mind, knowing the city has eyes on what’s happening in their neighborhoods. Either way, Forest Acres is putting STRs on the map—literally and figuratively.
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