Maine short-term rental rules, town by town
Short-term rentals are stays of under 30 days. Each town page lists registration, fees, inspections, caps and deadlines, with a link to the town's own source. Rules change often: always confirm with the town before you list.
Maine towns
Showing 36 of 36 towns
Bangor
Central Maine
License before operating; cap on non-hosted units.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Bar Harbor
Downeast (Hancock County)
Two categories, inspections, minimum stays and a 9% cap on non-primary homes.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Biddeford
York County coast
Published guides disagree on whether Biddeford requires short-term rental registration.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Brunswick
Midcoast (Cumberland County)
No separate short-term rental ordinance, but short-term rentals must be listed in the town's rental registry.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Camden
Midcoast (Knox County)
Voter-approved licensing for short-term rentals, in effect since January 1, 2025.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Kennebunk
York County coast
$250 to register, $150 to renew, and a fire inspection every year.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Kennebunkport
York County coast
License required before advertising; licenses capped and renewed each calendar year.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Old Orchard Beach
York County coast
Every rental unit needs a council-approved license after inspection.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Portland
Greater Portland
Annual registration, tiered fees, and a hard cap on non-owner-occupied units.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Rockland
Midcoast (Knox County)
Annual city permit for every short-term rental and a cap of 45 non-owner-occupied units.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Sanford
York County inland
Short-term rentals fall under Sanford's rental housing license rules, with extra requirements added in 2023.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Scarborough
Greater Portland
Brand-new ordinance; every operator must register by December 31, 2026.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
South Portland
Greater Portland
Non-hosted rentals barred in strictly residential zones; annual registration.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Unorganized territories
Statewide
Areas with no town government, run by the state's Land Use Planning Commission. A free notice is required.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Appleton
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Auburn
Central Maine
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Blue Hill
Downeast (Hancock County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Cushing
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Damariscotta
Midcoast (Lincoln County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Friendship
Midcoast (Knox County)
Voters narrowly rejected a short-term rental registration requirement.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Hope
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Isle au Haut
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Lewiston
Central Maine
No short-term rental ordinance found; the city runs a general rental registration program.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Matinicus Isle Plantation
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
North Haven
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Owls Head
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Rockport
Midcoast (Knox County)
Voters rejected a short-term rental ordinance in 2021; no town registration found since.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
South Thomaston
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
St. George
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Thomaston
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Union
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Vinalhaven
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Waldoboro
Midcoast (Lincoln County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Warren
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Washington
Midcoast (Knox County)
No town short-term rental rule found. State rules still apply.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
Westbrook
Greater Portland
No short-term rental ordinance yet; the city's ADU rules say ADUs will follow one if adopted.
Not yet confirmed with the town office
No town rule found means we found no short-term rental ordinance in our November 2026 check. Towns can adopt rules at any time, so always confirm with the town office.
We link to official town and state sources first; news reports are used only for recent votes and background.
Watch list: towns drafting or revisiting rules
| Town | Status |
|---|---|
| Tremont | Taking a second look at a short-term rental ordinance because of a new state housing law; surveyed residents in August 2026. |
| Southwest Harbor | Told by legal counsel in August 2026 that an enforceable registration requires an ordinance; weighing one. |
| Trenton | Planning board public workshop on short-term rentals, August 2026. |
| Mount Desert | Short-term rental rules likely to be revisited (reported August 2026). |
Why now: state housing legislation (LD 2173) loosens density limits starting July 1, 2027, and Acadia-area towns without rules are moving before then.
Rules that apply statewide
| Rule | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging tax | 9% Maine tax on short-term lodging. Platforms like Airbnb collect it for their bookings; register free with Maine Revenue Services for direct bookings. | Maine Revenue Services bulletin |
| Total-price advertising | Ads must show the total price including mandatory fees, more prominently than other pricing (Public Law 2025, chapter 311). | Public Law 2025, ch. 311 summary |
| Unorganized territories (areas with no town government) | Free notice required for any short-term rental in the Land Use Planning Commission's service area since January 12, 2026. No permit needed. | Maine LUPC |
| No town rule? | Then no town registration is needed, but tax, safety and fair-pricing rules still apply, and your town may adopt rules at any time. | 30-A M.R.S. §4364-C |