Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Franklin County, ME

Airbnb listings are allowed in Franklin County, ME, but with restrictions. Regulation varies across Franklin County: municipalities may require registration, occupancy limits, life-safety equipment, and a designated local contact reachable within 30 minutes (e.g., Rangeley). In unorganized territories under LUPC jurisdiction, STRs are allowed in residential zones but require filing a Short-Term Rental Notice. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Regulation varies across Franklin County: municipalities may require registration, occupancy limits, life-safety equipment, and a designated local contact reachable within 30 minutes (e.g., Rangeley). In unorganized territories under LUPC jurisdiction, STRs are allowed in residential zones but require filing a Short-Term Rental Notice.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Franklin County. 1) For LUPC jurisdiction: File the Short-Term Rental Notice online via the LUPC portal, providing operator info, location, and occupancy. 2) For towns like Rangeley: Submit a registration application to the Town Clerk with local contact info, proof of insurance, and life-safety inventory. 3) For towns without specific STR rules: Consult the local Code Enforcement Officer to determine if the property falls under existing lodging categories (e.g., Bed & Breakfast).

1) For LUPC jurisdiction: File the Short-Term Rental Notice online via the LUPC portal, providing operator info, location, and occupancy. 2) For towns like Rangeley: Submit a registration application to the Town Clerk with local contact info, proof of insurance, and life-safety inventory. 3) For towns without specific STR rules: Consult the local Code Enforcement Officer to determine if the property falls under existing lodging categories (e.g., Bed & Breakfast).

Vrbo is permitted in Franklin County, ME under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Franklin County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Franklin County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.