Short-Term Rentals in Gresham, OR

Gresham maintains 113 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Gresham falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Host Presence Rule

A Gresham 'hosted homeshare' STR must have an owner who actually lives there: registrants must prove owner-occupancy to the city manager before the unit can be registered.

Key details: Homeshare requirement: owner must reside on-site. Proof required: at registration. Verified by: city manager. Vacation rentals: no residency requirement.

Falsely certifying owner-occupancy for a hosted homeshare violates GRC 9.56.040(2)(a); enforcement follows GRC Article 9.99, and the manager may add conditions to or revoke the registration.

Noise Rules

Gresham bars short-term rentals from hosting organized events such as parties or weddings and requires occupants to follow the city's Noise Control Code, observing quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night.

Key details: Governing law: GRC § 9.56.040(1)(a)-(b). Events: No organized events allowed. Quiet hours: 10 p.m.-7 a.m.. Enforced under: Noise Control Code, Article 7.20. Applies to: Homeshares and vacation rentals.

Hosting an organized event or violating quiet hours is a code violation subject to GRC Article 9.99 penalties, up to $1,000 per offense, and can trigger conditions or revocation of the STR registration.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Gresham requires short-term rental owners to submit a registration application naming the STR's location, all owners, and a primary and backup contact, one of whom must live in the Portland metro area, plus pay a council-set application fee.

Key details: Governing law: GRC § 9.56.035. Must include: STR location & owner names. Contact requirement: One contact in Portland metro. Fee: Set by council resolution. Update window: Report changes within 10 days.

Submitting a false, incomplete, or misleading registration application is grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of the STR certificate under GRC § 9.99.050, in addition to fines up to $1,000 per offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Gresham actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

Occupancy Limits

Gresham caps short-term rental occupancy at two people per legal bedroom plus two, overnight, and adds six more for daytime gatherings; children under two don't count, and both limits must be disclosed in advertising.

Key details: Governing law: GRC § 9.56.040(1)(e). Overnight max: 2 per bedroom + 2. Daytime max: Overnight max + 6. Exemption: Children under 2 not counted. Disclosure: Must be posted and advertised.

Exceeding the posted overnight or daytime occupancy limit is a violation subject to GRC Article 9.99 penalties, up to $1,000 per offense, and can lead to conditions on or revocation of the STR registration.

Insurance Requirements

Gresham requires every short-term rental registrant to submit proof of liability insurance as part of the registration application, with the coverage type and amount set by the city attorney rather than a fixed statutory minimum.

Key details: Governing law: GRC § 9.56.035(1)(d). Requirement: Proof of insurance at application. Amount/type: Set by city attorney. Code text: No fixed dollar minimum stated. Applies to: Initial and renewal applications.

Failing to provide proof of liability insurance makes the registration application incomplete, which can result in denial of the certificate of registration and blocks the owner from lawfully operating the STR.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Gresham requires one off-street parking space per two bedrooms at every registered short-term rental, garage space included, under the city's 2020 Short-Term Residential Rental Code.

Key details: Parking standard: 1 space per 2 bedrooms. Garage credit: counts if unused by others. Applies to: all STR types. Enforcement: GRC Article 9.99.

Operating an STR without the required off-street parking violates GRC 9.56.040 and is enforced as a code violation under GRC Article 9.99, which can lead to registration conditions or revocation.

The Bottom Line

Gresham's short-term rentals rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Gresham is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Gresham's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.