Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Washington County, ME

Airbnb listings are allowed in Washington County, ME, but with restrictions. State Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) rules define a short-term rental (STR) as a dwelling, portion of a dwelling, or residential campsite rented for less than 30 consecutive days; STRs are allowed in LUPC service-area subdistricts where residential dwellings or campsites are allowed, but operators must file a Short-Term Rental Notice with the LUPC. The notice collects contact, location, occupancy and availability information; there is no fee for the notice and LUPC provides best-practice guidance for operators and neighbors. 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.

State Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) rules define a short-term rental (STR) as a dwelling, portion of a dwelling, or residential campsite rented for less than 30 consecutive days; STRs are allowed in LUPC service-area subdistricts where residential dwellings or campsites are allowed, but operators must file a Short-Term Rental Notice with the LUPC. The notice collects contact, location, occupancy and availability information; there is no fee for the notice and LUPC provides best-practice guidance for operators and neighbors.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Washington County.

Vrbo is permitted in Washington County, ME under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

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