Short-Term Rentals in the Commission's Service Area

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

Draft Rule Changes – Public Comment Rebuttal Period

The Commission posted its proposed rule changes regarding short-term rentals to a 45-day public comment period that closed April 17, 2024. Written comments were received from 47 individual parties. A 14-day rebuttal period is currently open. Written rebuttals must be submitted by May 1, 2024.

Please send written rebuttal comments to Stacy.Benjamin@maine.gov or by postal mail to: Maine Land Use Planning Commission, Attn: Stacy Benjamin, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0022.

Background

Short-term rentals have a deep history in rural Maine. The rise of user-friendly online reservation platforms and evolving traveler preferences have contributed to the growing popularity of short-term rentals in the Commission's service area. While short-term rental activity can bring positive economic effects, it can also create nuisances for neighbors and have environmental impacts. The Commission has been studying short-term rental activity and exploring potential regulatory options.

During the summer of 2023, the Commission gathered information on how short-term rental activity affects residents and visitors in the area it serves. As part of this process, the Commission sought feedback on a potential regulatory approach for short-term rentals. Commission staff facilitated in-person community meetings in the Millinocket, Moosehead, and Rangeley regions, as these are areas of significant short-term rental activity. A virtual meeting and a written public comment period were also held. The written public comment period closed on August 15, 2023.

The Commission used the information and feedback obtained through its outreach to evaluate and refine its recommended regulatory approach for short-term rentals.

Materials on Short-Term Rentals

The table below contains links to materials relevant to short-term rentals (STRs) in the Commission’s service area and to the short-term rental study. The most recent materials appear at the top of the table. The table will be updated whenever new materials are available.

Date	Project Update or Event	File Links
April 18, 2024	Public Comments Received	Public Comments (PDF 20MB)
February 28, 2024	Posted to Public Comment – Comment period closed April 17, 2024	Draft Rule Redline for Short-term Rentals (PDF 1.1MB)
February 7, 2024	Staff Recommendation to Post Draft Rule Changes for Public Comment	Memorandum to the Commission (PDF 1.4MB) Draft Rule Redline for Short-term Rentals (PDF 1.1MB)
November 8, 2023	Commission Presentation and Discussion of Short-term Rentals	Presentation to Commission (PDF 3MB)
November 1, 2023	Summary of All Comments Received and Recommended Next Steps	Memorandum to the Commission (PDF 353KB) Summary of All Comments Received (Also as attachment to memo) (PDF 68KB)
July 13, 2023	Rangeley Region Community Meeting	LUPC Summary of Meeting Comments (PDF 143KB) Sticky Notes and Written Comments (PDF 1.0MB)
June 29, 2023	Moosehead Area Community Meeting	LUPC Summary of Meeting Comments (PDF 154KB) Sticky Notes and Written Comments (PDF 1.3MB)
June 15, 2023	Millinocket Area Community Meeting	LUPC Staff Notes from Millinocket Area Community Meeting (PDF 87KB)
June 15, 2023	Community Meetings Begin	Community Meeting Short-Term Rental Presentation (PDF 242KB)
May 10, 2023	Update on STRs in the LUPC Service Area – Presentation to the Commission	Update on STRs in the LUPC Service Area - Presentation (PDF 161KB)
May 4, 2023	Update on STRs in the LUPC Service Area – Memo to the Commission	Update on STRs in the LUPC Service Area - Memo (PDF 157KB)
March 8, 2023	STRs in the LUPC Service Area - Presentation	STRs in the LUPC Service Area - Presentation (PDF 440KB)
March 1, 2023	STRs in the LUPC Service Area – Memo to the Commission	STRs in the LUPC Service Area - Memo (PDF 426KB)