Tax Rate on ADU when main house in owner occupied - N. Charleston

[Hilary Harrison]

Hey All!

Hoping someone may be able to help me with this question. I'm fairly new to real estate investing and recently bought a house in the Park Circle area of North Charleston. The house has an ADU, and the ADU currently has a tenant. I live in the main house. I assumed that since this property qualified as a single family residence and I'm living in the main house with it being my primary residence that the tax rate would be the primary 4%. However, I just got the Charleston County's assessment letter and it shows that the main house is taxed at the 4% and the ADU on the property is taxed at 6%, with the entire value of the home being split between the two structures.

Does anyone happen to know if this is accurate? I'm assuming it is, but was surprised to find I'd have two separate tax rates - one at the primary rate and one at the rental rate. I thought I'd just have one tax rate for everything at the 4%.

Thank you!

Hilary

[Hilary Harrison]

Thanks, @Will Gaston! That was my thinking as well. There's a discrepancy between the city records and the appraisal on sq. footage. Our appraisal says the main house is 1,140 and the ADU is 525 sq. ft. The records show the main house to be 1,740 and the ADU to be 400 sq ft. Quite the difference and I'm not positive which is right, but I think the appraisal is.

Thanks for your help!