Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Waldo County, ME

Airbnb listings are allowed in Waldo County, ME, but with restrictions. No county-wide STR ordinance was found; STRs are governed by individual municipalities in Waldo County and (for unorganized/LUPC service-area lands) by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission. Examples: Belfast requires annual short-term rental registration for any dwelling advertised for <28 consecutive days and a named local contact; Searsport’s Land Use Ordinance permits “bed and breakfast”/transient accommodations with explicit limits (maximum 8 beds, maximum 16 guests) and subjects uses to Code Enforcement Officer/Planning Board review. Properties in LUPC service areas must file a Short-Term Rental Notice with the LUPC. 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.

No county-wide STR ordinance was found; STRs are governed by individual municipalities in Waldo County and (for unorganized/LUPC service-area lands) by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission. Examples: Belfast requires annual short-term rental registration for any dwelling advertised for <28 consecutive days and a named local contact; Searsport’s Land Use Ordinance permits “bed and breakfast”/transient accommodations with explicit limits (maximum 8 beds, maximum 16 guests) and subjects uses to Code Enforcement Officer/Planning Board review. Properties in LUPC service areas must file a Short-Term Rental Notice with the LUPC.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Waldo County. 1) Identify the town/city where the rental is located and consult that municipality’s Planning/Codes or Land Use ordinance. 2) If in Belfast: complete and submit the City of Belfast Short-Term Rental Registration application to the Planning & Codes Department (online permitting portal), pay the required registration fee, display the issued registration inside the unit, and renew annually. 3) If in Searsport: file for the required Code Enforcement Officer/land use permit under the Town of Searsport Land Use Ordinance (application to CEO; comply with site-plan, certificate of occupancy and performance standards). 4) If located in LUPC Commission service area: file the LUPC Short-Term Rental Notice online via the LUPC portal.

1) Identify the town/city where the rental is located and consult that municipality’s Planning/Codes or Land Use ordinance. 2) If in Belfast: complete and submit the City of Belfast Short-Term Rental Registration application to the Planning & Codes Department (online permitting portal), pay the required registration fee, display the issued registration inside the unit, and renew annually. 3) If in Searsport: file for the required Code Enforcement Officer/land use permit under the Town of Searsport Land Use Ordinance (application to CEO; comply with site-plan, certificate of occupancy and performance standards). 4) If located in LUPC Commission service area: file the LUPC Short-Term Rental Notice online via the LUPC portal.

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