Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Portland?

**Yes**, Portland requires a Short-Term Rental Registration, which you must renew annually. You need to register with the Housing Safety Office. The city has specific regulations for both owner-occupied and non-owner occupied units, so ensure you understand these differences before applying for the permit. (54 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in Portland, ME?

**9% TOT** is the current tax rate for short-term rentals in Portland. As a host, you are responsible for collecting this tax from your guests and remitting it to the city. Be sure to check with the city's finance department for details on how to properly remit these taxes. (52 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in Portland, Maine?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Portland, ME, but with certain restrictions. The city has a cap of 400 registrations for non-owner occupied units. You should check the availability of these licenses. Owner-occupied units have different rules, so ensure you understand the regulations for your specific situation. (53 words)

How much does an STR permit cost in Portland?

**$100** is the cost of the Short-Term Rental Registration fee in Portland. This fee is required annually when you register your property with the Housing Safety Office. Make sure to budget for this expense when planning your short-term rental business. This is an annual fee that must be renewed. (51 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in Portland?

**Yes**, tenants are allowed to host on Airbnb in Portland. However, they must still comply with all city regulations, including obtaining a Short-Term Rental Registration. It's also crucial that tenants review their lease agreements to ensure that short-term rentals are permitted by their landlord before listing any property. (53 words)

Portland, ME Short-Term Rental Laws...

Gold Standard Verification

100%

Forensically verified with 3+ official sources

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

3 Official Sources

Summary

The City of Portland requires all short-term rentals to register annually with the Housing Safety Office. Regulations distinguish between owner-occupied and non-owner occupied units, with a strict citywide cap of 400 registrations for non-owner occupied units.

Restriction Level

✅

Permissive

Score: 5 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•Permit required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement
•Tenants can host

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Portland, you must register your property with the city every year. If the home is your primary residence, the fee is relatively low ($100), but if you don't live there, the fees are much higher and there is a limit on how many total permits the city gives out (400). You must show proof of $1 million in insurance and make sure your home meets all fire safety codes, like having the right smoke detectors and safe exits.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$100

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Non-owner occupied units are capped at 400 citywide; check availability before purchasing property for STR use.
2.The registration fee for non-owner occupied units is significantly higher and increases with each additional unit.
3.You must include your city-issued registration number in the first line of any online listing.
4.Island properties (like Peaks Island) have different registration caps and rules.
5.Short-term rentals are strictly defined as stays of 29 consecutive days or fewer.
6.Failure to renew by December 31st results in a $50 late fee and potential loss of permit in capped zones.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

•Portland, ME: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Portland: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Portland limits hosts to a maximum of 5 STR properties per owner.
•Portland: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements(18)

•Portland STR warning: Short-term rentals are strictly defined as stays of 29 consecutive days or fewer.
•Portland STR warning: Non-owner occupied units are capped at 400 citywide; check availability before purchasing property for STR use.
•Portland STR warning: Failure to renew by December 31st results in a $50 late fee and potential loss of permit in capped zones.

Application Process(11)

•Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Portland: Step 1: Verify Eligibility and Residency - Determine if you are registering as an owner-occupied or non-owner occupied unit. Note that non-owner units are capped at 400 citywide. Documents needed: Proof of residency. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://portlandme.gov/220/Short-Term-Rentals Step 2: Gather Documentation - Prepare floor plans showing egress, proof of $1M liability insurance, and the housing safety checklist. Documents needed: Floor plans, Insurance certificate. Estimated time: 3-5 days. Step 3: Submit Online Registration - Apply through the CSS Portal. You will need to create an account and upload all digital documents. Estimated time: 30 minutes. Cost: 100. More info: https://portlandme.selfservice.tylertech.com/ Step 4: Safety Inspection - The Housing Safety Office may schedule an inspection to verify smoke/CO detectors and egress compliance. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks.

Fees & Costs(2)

•Portland charges a registration fee of $100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $5000 (Non-owner occupied units pay higher tiered fees; the 1st unit is $100 for owner-occupied, while non-owner units scale up to $5,000 for the 5th unit.).
•Portland: The registration fee for non-owner occupied units is significantly higher and increases with each additional unit.

Taxes(2)

•Portland charges a Maine Lodging Tax of 9%. This applies to stays under 28 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 9% state lodging tax directly to Maine Revenue Services.
•Maine has a state sales tax of 5.5% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(8)

•Portland: Non-owner occupied units are capped at 400 citywide; check availability before purchasing property for STR use.
•Portland occupancy calculation: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, up to a total of 8.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Portland: Island properties (like Peaks Island) have different registration caps and rules.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Portland requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows must meet code, Working intercom/phone access, Registration number on all advertisements.

Penalties(4)

•Portland: Short-term rentals are strictly defined as stays of 29 consecutive days or fewer.
•Portland enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $100 per day. Second offense: $250 per day. Third offense: $500 per day. Daily fine: Up to $1,000. Maximum fine: Uncapped based on duration of violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(3)

•Portland, ME: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Portland: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Maine Markets

Camden

Maine

Moderate

The Town of Camden regulates short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) through a mandatory annual licensing program and specific performance standards in the zoning ordinance. All hosts must meet safety requirements and pay the 9% Maine state lodging tax, though there is no additional local municipal tax.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Augusta

Maine

Permissive

Augusta, ME does not currently enforce a citywide short-term rental permit system or registration, though hosts must comply with state-level lodging taxes.

0.1% total tax

Kennebunk

Maine

Moderate

Effective January 1, 2025, Kennebunk requires all short-term rental units (rentals under 15 days) to register with the Town Clerk and pass a mandatory fire safety inspection.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Kennebunkport

Maine

Moderate

Kennebunkport requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain an annual license through the Town Clerk's office. The town enforces a cap on the number of non-owner-occupied licenses and limits owners to a maximum of two STR properties.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Portland

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

Create a free account

Regulation Details

Eligibility(12)

Requirements(18)

Application Process(11)

Fees & Costs(2)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(8)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(4)

Exemptions(3)

Create a free account

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Maine Markets

Camden

Augusta

Kennebunk

Kennebunkport

Portland

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Portland?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Portland, ME?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Portland, Maine?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Portland?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Portland?

Related Content

Other Maine Markets

Camden

Augusta

Kennebunk

Kennebunkport