Short-Term Rental Regulations
in South Portland, ME

Airbnb listings are allowed in South Portland, ME, but with restrictions. The City defines a short-term residential rental as a temporary rental of less than 30 consecutive days and requires all such rentals to be registered with the City; the ordinance was updated Aug 27, 2019 and registration was required starting Jan 1, 2019. No explicit zone-only allowance, occupancy caps, primary-residence requirement, minimum-night stay, or platform-registration rules are stated on the cited pages. 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.

The City defines a short-term residential rental as a temporary rental of less than 30 consecutive days and requires all such rentals to be registered with the City; the ordinance was updated Aug 27, 2019 and registration was required starting Jan 1, 2019. No explicit zone-only allowance, occupancy caps, primary-residence requirement, minimum-night stay, or platform-registration rules are stated on the cited pages.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in South Portland. 1) Create an account and submit the annual short-term rental registration via the City’s online application portal. 2) Attach required documents (e.g., proof of insurance, floor plan) and pay the required fee. 3) Applications typically take two weeks for required approvals, after which the license appears on the applicant dashboard.

1) Create an account and submit the annual short-term rental registration via the City’s online application portal. 2) Attach required documents (e.g., proof of insurance, floor plan) and pay the required fee. 3) Applications typically take two weeks for required approvals, after which the license appears on the applicant dashboard.

Vrbo is permitted in South Portland, 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 South Portland 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 South Portland. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.