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Short-term rental (Airbnb) rules in Camden, Maine

Camden, Knox County · Ordinances checked 2026-10-01 · Reviewed · 15 cited sections

Allowed with a permit

Yes, with an annual Town license. Since January 1, 2025, every short-term rental (28 days or less) in Camden must be licensed with the Code Enforcement Officer before it's rented. Only the record owner can apply, and the fee is $350 a year for a rental at your primary residence ($500 seasonal, $1,000 commercial). Which zones allow which type of rental is set in the zoning chapter, which we couldn't review.

LicenseAnnual Town license required before renting [1]
What counts as short-term28 consecutive days or one calendar month or less, whichever is less [2]
Annual fees$350 residential, $500 seasonal, $1,000 commercial [8]
Septic surchargeAdditional $100 if on a septic system [9]
Who can applyRecord owner only; no property managers, renters or sublets [5]
License expirationDecember 31 each year [11]
Life-safety inspectionsAt least every 3 years [10]
Emergency response (commercial/seasonal)Operator available 24 hours, on site within 30 to 45 minutes [7]

License required

Camden's short-term rental chapter (Chapter 215, rewritten in 2024) took effect January 1, 2025 [14]. A short-term rental is renting a dwelling unit to transient guests for no more than 28 consecutive days or one calendar month, whichever is less [2]. Every short-term rental must be licensed with the Town each year before it's rented [1]. Licenses expire December 31 [11]. The license card must be posted inside the rental, and its number must appear on every online listing [12].

Three types

  • Residential: on a lot where the owner claims primary residency. The owner doesn't have to be home during stays [3]. If it's in a single-family home, you must show you own it and live there as your primary residence [6].
  • Commercial: the owner doesn't claim primary residency on the property [4].
  • Seasonal: a seasonal-only building, typically uninsulated, with seasonal water.

For commercial and seasonal rentals, an operator must be reachable 24 hours a day and able to respond on site within 30 to 45 minutes [7]. Only the record owner may apply. Property managers, renters and lessees can't apply, and renters can't sublet [5].

Fees and inspections

The Town's page lists annual fees of $350 (residential), $500 (seasonal) and $1,000 (commercial) [8], plus $100 if the rental is on septic [9]. The Code Enforcement Officer does life-safety inspections at least every three years, covering smoke and CO detectors, exits, electrical safety and septic [10]. Rentals not on public sewer must show the septic system is designed for the proposed occupancy [15].

Zones and caps

Chapter 215 says residential, commercial and seasonal rentals are regulated as permitted uses in specific districts under the zoning chapter, Chapter 290 [13]. We couldn't get the current zoning text, so we can't say which types are allowed in your zone or whether there are caps. Chapter 215 sets no minimum stay, fixed guest cap or parking rule; for rentals on septic, occupancy is limited to what the system is designed for [15]. Check with Code Enforcement before you list.

See how Camden compares with 8+ other Maine towns on short-term rentals (airbnb / vrbo) →

Next steps

  1. Confirm with Camden Code Enforcement (207-236-3353 ext. 7112) which STR type (residential, seasonal or commercial) your zoning district allows under Chapter 290.
  2. Gather proof of ownership, primary-residence documents if applicable, a 24-hour local contact, and HOA/condo approval if you're in an association.
  3. Apply through the Town's online STR licensing portal and pay the annual fee ($350, $500 or $1,000, plus $100 if on septic).
  4. Post the license card and a guest information packet (exits, emergency contact, trash, noise rules) in the unit, and put the license number on every listing.
  5. Register with Maine Revenue Services for lodging tax if required, and renew the license before January 1 each year.

Common questions

Do I need a license for a short-term rental in Camden, Maine?
Yes. Since January 1, 2025, every short-term rental in Camden must be licensed with the Code Enforcement Officer each year before it's rented. Licenses expire December 31.
How much does a short-term rental license cost in Camden, Maine?
The Town's page lists annual fees of $350 residential, $500 seasonal and $1,000 commercial, plus $100 if the rental is on septic.
What counts as a short-term rental in Camden, Maine?
Renting a dwelling unit to transient guests for no more than 28 consecutive days or one calendar month, whichever is less.
Who can apply for a short-term rental license in Camden, Maine?
Only the record owner. Property managers, renters and lessees can't apply, and renters can't sublet. Which zones allow which type of rental is set in the zoning chapter, which we couldn't review.

Maine state rules for short-term rentals

No statewide STR license. Maine has no state registration or permit for Airbnb/VRBO hosts. State law instead lets each town regulate short-term rentals (30-A M.R.S. §4364-C(2), passed in 2022). Check your town's rules.

Lodging tax (Maine Revenue Services):

  • Rentals of living quarters are taxed at 9%, still the rate in 2026.
  • Booking platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO must register with the state and collect the tax on bookings made through them.
  • If you rent a single unit for fewer than 15 days a year, you generally aren't a "retailer" and don't need to register.
  • If you rent 15 days or more in a year, you must register with Maine Revenue Services and collect tax on any bookings you take directly.
  • A stay of 28+ days in a row is tax-exempt only in certain cases, such as when the unit is the guest's primary residence.

No state lodging license for vacation rentals. Maine's lodging-license law leaves out "vacation rentals," meaning homes rented to people with a permanent home elsewhere. B&Bs, inns and hotels do need a license.

ADUs: Starting July 1, 2027, towns can't require ADU owners to live on the property. State guidance says towns can still regulate STRs, for example by requiring registration or banning STRs in ADUs.

State sources: 30-A M.R.S. §4364-C (municipalities may regulate short-term rentals) · Maine Revenue Services Instructional Bulletin 32: Rental of Living Quarters (Mar. 2026) · Maine Revenue Services: Sales and Use Tax Rates · 22 M.R.S. §2491 (lodging place / vacation rental definitions) · Maine Office of Community Affairs, Housing Legislation Guidance (March 2026)

What the ordinance says

Exact text from Camden's published ordinances. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. §215-6A, Licensed application and procedure, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    All short-term rentals shall be licensed with the Town of Camden on an annual basis, prior to the rental of a dwelling. Application forms, along with applicable fees, shall be filed annually with the CEO.
  2. §215-4, Definitions: Short-term rental, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    The use of a dwelling unit for rent to a transient occupant(s) for a period of no more than 28 consecutive days or one calendar month, whichever is less.
  3. §215-4, Definitions: Residential short-term rental, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    A short-term rental where the rental is located on a lot where the owner claims primary residency, and the owner may or may not be "in residence" during the tenancy of the short-term rental by transient occupants.
  4. §215-4, Definitions: Commercial short-term rental, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    A short-term rental where the rental is owned by the licensee, but the licensee does not claim primary residency on the property and operates a short-term rental(s) on the property.
  5. §215-9A, Eligibility, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    Property management companies, renters, lessees, or other parties, who are not the record owner(s) of the proposed short-term rental shall not be eligible to apply to license a dwelling as a short-term rental.
  6. §215-9B, Eligibility, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    When the proposed short-term rental is a residential short-term rental, as defined in this chapter, and the short-term rental is located in a single-family dwelling, the applicant must demonstrate in the application that they are the record owner of the property and that they maintain the property as their primary residence.
  7. §215-9C, Eligibility, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    When the proposed short-term rental is a commercial or seasonal short-term rental property, the applicant must demonstrate in the application that an operator, such as a property manager, operator, or other responsible persons, shall be available 24 hours a day to respond to any on-site emergencies within 30 to 45 minutes.
  8. Short Term Rental Information: Annual Short-Term Rental Licensing Fees, Short Term Rental Information (town page), p. 1
    $350 — Residential $500 — Seasonal $1,000 — Commercial
  9. Short Term Rental Information: Annual Short-Term Rental Licensing Fees, Short Term Rental Information (town page), p. 1
    If the STR is on a septic system, there is an additional $100 fee related to increased Code Enforcement inspection requirements.
  10. §215-8, Inspection required, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    The CEO is required to ensure public health and safety and will conduct appropriate life safety inspections at least every three years to cover a range of crucial areas that include but are not limited to:
  11. §215-7A, License expiration, renewal and issuance, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    All short-term rental licenses shall expire on December 31 of each year.
  12. §215-6E, Licensed application and procedure, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    An approved license card shall be posted on the premises of the short-term rental for convenient inspection by a short term rental transient occupant; the approved license card with unique licensing number shall also be posted on any web-based online rental platform where the property is listed for rent.
  13. §215-2, Authority, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    For purposes of zoning and land use, commercial short-term rentals, residential short-term rentals, and seasonal short-term rentals shall be defined and regulated as permitted uses in specific district regulations in Chapter 290 of this code.
  14. Short Term Rental Information, Short Term Rental Information (town page), p. 1
    Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the Town of Camden’s voter-approved Short-Term Rental regulations became law and new STR registration, licensing, and life safety inspection requirements took effect, as detailed in Chapter 215 and Chapter 290 of the Town’s Code of Ordinances.
  15. §215-11A, Limitations on occupancy in short-term rentals, Rentals, Short-Term (Chapter 215) - eCode360, p. 1
    All short-term rentals not connected to the public sewer system must show compliance, as per the local plumbing inspector, that the existing subsurface wastewater disposal system (SSWD) is an operational and properly functioning system designed for the proposed occupancy of the short-term rental.
This page summarizes Camden's posted ordinances as of 2026-10-01. Ordinances are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Planning, Development and Code Enforcement Department (207-236-3353 ext. 7112 (dept); CEO ext. 7114) before you build. Spot an error?