Short-term rental (Airbnb) rules in Scarborough, Maine
It depends on your zone. In Scarborough's main residential zones (RF, RFM, R2, R3, R4, R4A), renting out the home you live in for under 28 days needs a special exception from the Zoning Board of Appeals unless the property is in the Coastal Beach Zone, and non-owner-occupied (investment) rentals are allowed only in the Coastal Beach Zone. Starting January 1, 2027 every short-term rental must also be registered with the Town Clerk (deadline December 31, 2026), and STRs are never allowed in an ADU or in the house on a lot with an ADU.
| What counts as an STR | Rental for less than 28 consecutive days [1] |
| Registration | Required from Jan 1, 2027; register with the Town Clerk by Dec 31, 2026 [2] |
| Owner-occupied STR in RF, RFM, R2, R3, R4, R4A | Coastal Beach Zone only, otherwise special exception (Zoning Board of Appeals) [3] |
| Non-owner-occupied STR in RF, RFM, R2, R3, R4, R4A | Only in the Coastal Beach Zone [4] |
| ADU lots | STRs not permitted in an ADU or the house on the same lot [5] |
| Limit per lot (outside Coastal Beach Zone) | 1 STR (up to 2 structures/room offerings, one rental at a time) [6] |
| On-street parking by guests | Prohibited [7] |
| Exemption | Rented no more than twice a year and under 14 total days [8] |
| Penalty for unregistered STR | $100/day first offense, $150/day additional offenses [9] |
| 2025 rentals where STRs aren't a permitted use | May register by Dec 31, 2026 but must stop after Dec 31, 2027 [11] |
What the rules cover
A short-term rental is renting a dwelling, part of one, or an accessory structure for less than 28 consecutive days [1]. Chapter 1020, adopted May 20, 2026, requires registration starting January 1, 2027, with a registration deadline of December 31, 2026 [2]. A home rented no more than twice a year for fewer than 14 total days is not an STR [8].
Where STRs are allowed
The zoning use table has separate rows for owner-occupied STRs (the owner's primary residence) and non-owner-occupied STRs. Reading the table's columns from the PDF:
- RF, RFM, R2, R3, R4, R4A: owner-occupied STRs are marked "C60 or SE", meaning allowed in the Coastal Beach Zone or otherwise by special exception from the Zoning Board of Appeals [3]. Non-owner-occupied STRs are marked C60 only: "Only Permitted in Coastal Beach Zone" [4].
- VR-2, VR-4 and RPO: owner-occupied STRs are permitted; non-owner-occupied STRs need a special exception.
- Several village, mixed-use and business districts permit both types.
The Coastal Beach Zone isn't defined or mapped in the documents we have, so ask Planning & Codes whether your property is in it.
If you already rented in 2025
Owners who rented short-term in 2025 (at least 14 days, under 30 days per tenancy) in a zone that requires a special exception can skip it by filing an affidavit with evidence and registering by December 31, 2026 [10]. Where STRs are not a permitted use at all, such owners may register by December 31, 2026, but the rental must stop after December 31, 2027 [11].
Where you can't rent
No STRs in an ADU or the house on a lot with an approved ADU [5], or in sheds, tents or RVs. Outside the Coastal Beach Zone, only one STR per single-family lot (two structures or room offerings may be registered, but only one rental at a time), with no exterior signage [6].
Registration requirements
Apply to the Town Clerk with owner contacts, map/lot, owner- or non-owner-occupied status, maximum occupancy, an emergency contact, and number of off-street parking spaces. Required safety items: smoke alarms, CO detectors if there is an attached garage or fuel-fired appliance, fuel gas detectors near gas appliances, and a mounted fire extinguisher. The Town inspects within 45 days of initial registration and every 3–5 years. Guests may not park on the street [7]. Registrations expire December 31 each year and are not transferable to a new owner; fees are set by Town Council. Unregistered operation can be fined $100 per day, then $150 per day [9].
See how Scarborough compares with 8+ other Maine towns on short-term rentals (airbnb / vrbo) →
Next steps
- Ask Scarborough Planning & Codes, (207) 730-4040, which zoning district you are in and whether your property is in the Coastal Beach Zone.
- If your zone requires a special exception, apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals before renting (unless you qualify for the 2025 transitional waiver).
- If you rented short-term in 2025, gather evidence (bookings, tax records) and a sworn affidavit for the transitional provisions.
- Install the required smoke, CO and fuel gas detectors and a mounted fire extinguisher.
- Register with the Scarborough Town Clerk by December 31, 2026, and renew at least 45 days before each December 31 expiration.
Common questions
- Can I Airbnb my house in Scarborough, Maine?
- It depends on your zone. In the main residential zones, renting the home you live in for under 28 days needs a special exception from the Zoning Board of Appeals unless it's in the Coastal Beach Zone. Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed only in the Coastal Beach Zone.
- Do I need to register a short-term rental in Scarborough, Maine?
- Yes. Registration with the Town Clerk is required starting January 1, 2027, with a registration deadline of December 31, 2026. Unregistered operation can be fined $100 per day, then $150 per day.
- Can I rent an ADU on Airbnb in Scarborough, Maine?
- No. Short-term rentals aren't allowed in an ADU or in the house on a lot with an ADU.
- What counts as a short-term rental in Scarborough, Maine?
- Renting a dwelling, part of one, or an accessory structure for less than 28 consecutive days. A home rented no more than twice a year for fewer than 14 total days isn't an STR.
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.
What the ordinance says
- Section VI Definitions – Short-Term Rental, Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 405), compiled, p. 54
Short-Term Rental: The use, control, management or operation of a legally existing residential dwelling or portion of a dwelling unit or accessory structures offered for rent for transient occupancy for dwelling, sleeping or lodging purposes by short-term rental guests for less than 28 consecutive days, for compensation, directly or indirectly, excluding motels, licensed campgrounds, hotels, bed- and-breakfasts, and lodging houses.
- Chapter 1020, B. Applicability, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 3
Effective January 1, 2027 no person shall advertise, operate, or rent a short-term rental without first registering the short-term rental unit(s) with the Town of Scarborough. Registration deadline December 31, 2026 and an annual report and review to occur in February 2027.
- Section XIII.A Use Tables – abbreviations, Zoning Ordinance Section XIII.A – Combined Zoning District Use Tables, p. 1
SE – Special Exception Required
- Section XIII.A Use Tables – Conditions, Zoning Ordinance Section XIII.A – Combined Zoning District Use Tables, p. 12
C60 Only Permitted in Coastal Beach Zone
- Chapter 1020, B. Applicability, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 3
Short-term rentals are not permitted in accessory dwelling units nor in the dwelling on the same lot as an accessory dwelling unit approved per Chapter 405 Zoning Ordinance, Section IX.J Performance Standards Accessory Units.
- Section IX.FF.1, Zoning Ordinance Section IX – Performance Standards, p. 49
No more than one short term rental shall be permitted per single family residential lot excluding short term rentals in the Coastal Beach Zone.
- Chapter 1020, H. Good Neighbor Ordinance and Parking, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 5
On street parking by Short-term Rental tenants or guests is prohibited per Chapter 601 – the Town of Scarborough Traffic Ordinance.
- Chapter 1020, B. Applicability, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 3
A short-term rental does not include legally existing dwelling units that are rented no more than twice per calendar year and for less than a total of 14 days in a calendar year.
- Chapter 1020, M. Violations and Penalties, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 6
For the violation of operating and/or advertising the rental of a short-term rental without a valid registration, the violator may be penalized with a per day fine of $100 for the first offense and an additional per day fine of $150 for each additional offense, to be recovered upon complaint to Maine District Court or Superior Court, for use of the Town.
- Chapter 1020, L. Transitional Provisions, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 6
If these conditions are met, the requirement for special exception shall be waived.
- Chapter 1020, L. Transitional Provisions, Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 1020), p. 6
Such owners or entities are required to register by December 31, 2026. This initial registration period shall be valid for a period of 12 months until December 31, 2027, at which time the short-term rental use must cease.