Multnomah County, OR Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Short-term ADU rental prohibited
- Short-term defined
- Occupancy under 30 consecutive days
- Owner must
- Sign and record a covenant
- Applies in
- MUA-20 and similar rural zones
- Not covered
- Portland has its own code
Summary
Multnomah County bars short-term rental of accessory dwelling units in rural residential zones like MUA-20 outside Portland; owners must record a covenant limiting the ADU to long-term occupancy.
(8) Short-term rental of the ADU is prohibited. For purposes of this subsection, short-term rental is defined as fee-based occupancy for a period less than 30 consecutive calendar days. ... (9) The land owner shall sign and record with the county a covenant stating that the ADU cannot be used for short-term rental, as defined in this section.
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County's zoning code allows one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot in rural residential base zones such as Multiple Use Agriculture (MUA-20), but bars using it as a short-term rental. Multnomah County Code § 39.4310(L)(8) defines short-term rental as fee-based occupancy under 30 consecutive days and prohibits it outright; month-to-month leases for long-term purposes are exempt. Subsection (9) requires the landowner to sign and record a covenant with the county committing the ADU to long-term use only, running until the property is annexed into a city. This is unincorporated-county law only. Portland, Gresham and the county's other cities regulate ADU rentals under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Renting an ADU short-term without the recorded covenant violates Multnomah County Code § 39.4310(L); county code enforcement can pursue civil penalties and require the owner to record the covenant or stop the rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my Multnomah County ADU on Airbnb for a weekend?
Does this rule apply to an ADU in Portland?
Can I rent my county ADU month-to-month?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.