Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Mount Desert, ME

Airbnbs are effectively legal in Mount Desert, ME because there are no specific short-term rental regulations on the books. The Town of Mount Desert has no municipal STR licensing or caps as of May 2024. However, properties in the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) service area must file a Short-Term Rental Notice by July 11, 2026, if they operated prior to January 2026. Operators should still verify HOA rules, state-level requirements, and any tax-collection obligations. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

The Town of Mount Desert has no municipal STR licensing or caps as of May 2024. However, properties in the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) service area must file a Short-Term Rental Notice by July 11, 2026, if they operated prior to January 2026.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Mount Desert.

Vrbo is effectively legal in Mount Desert, ME for the same reason Airbnb is: there are no short-term-rental-specific regulations on the books. Operators should still check HOA, state, and tax obligations before listing. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Mount Desert 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 Mount Desert. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.