Portland's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Portland, Oregon, there are 8 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Host Platform Liability

Booking agents and platforms like Airbnb cannot complete a booking or collect any fee for a Portland short-term rental unless it's on the city's registry, or they face a $1,000-per-violation civil penalty.

Key details: Registry check required: before completing any booking. Civil penalty: $1,000 per violation per day. Each booking counts: as a separate violation. Enforced by: Revenue Division (City Administrator).

Violating either duty draws a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation per day under § 6.04.080.G, with each booking transaction or fee collected counted as a separate violation.

This is one of the stricter rules in Portland's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Portland revokes an accessory short-term rental permit under City Code Section 3.30.040 procedures when the operator violates Title 33.207, and bars a new permit for that dwelling unit for two full years.

Key details: Revocation authority: City Code § 3.30.040 procedures. Re-application ban: 2 years, same dwelling unit. Enforcing agency: Portland Permitting & Development. Data violation: missed 30-day transactional data request.

Violating any Chapter 33.207 standard triggers permit revocation under Section 3.30.040, followed by a two-year ban on new Type A permits for that unit; withholding guest transactional data is a separate, standalone violation.

This is one of the stricter rules in Portland's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Occupancy Limits

Portland caps Type A accessory short-term rentals at 5 overnight guests under City Code § 33.207.040.B.5. Type B rentals, which can rent up to 5 bedrooms, set guest counts through a conditional use review instead of a flat citywide number.

Key details: Type A guest cap: 5 overnight guests. Type A bedroom cap: 2 bedrooms rented. Type B bedroom cap: 5 bedrooms, conditional use. Host residency rule: 270+ days/year on-site. Permit renewal: Every 2 years.

Advertising more guests or bedrooms than permitted violates § 33.207.040.B.10. Portland Permitting & Development can revoke a Type A permit under City Code § 3.30.040 for noncompliance, barring reapplication for 2 years.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Portland requires short-term rental hosts to occupy their dwelling unit at least 270 days each calendar year, so the property stays a genuine primary residence rather than a full-time rental investment.

Key details: Residency requirement: 270 days per year minimum. Type A cap: 2 bedrooms rented. Type B cap: 5 bedrooms rented. Permit renewal: Every 2 years. Type A guest cap: 5 guests maximum.

Operating without meeting the 270-day residency requirement is grounds for permit denial or revocation under City Code Section 3.30.040; a revoked Type A permit bars reapplication for 2 years, and non-compliant listings can be cited by Portland Permitting & Development.

Host Presence Rule

Portland requires the resident of a Type A accessory short-term rental to occupy the dwelling unit at least 270 days each calendar year, and the rented bedrooms must be within the unit the resident occupies.

Key details: Minimum host occupancy: 270 days/year. Type A bedroom cap: 2 bedrooms. Permit renewal: Every 2 years. Permitting agency: Portland Permitting & Development. Revocation penalty: 2-year reissue bar.

Renting a bedroom without meeting the 270-day residency requirement or without a Type A permit violates § 33.207.040; the City can revoke the permit under § 33.207.040.D, barring reissue for 2 years.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Portland requires a Type A or Type B accessory short-term rental permit from Portland Permitting & Development before renting bedrooms to overnight guests, renewed every two years for Type A rentals.

Key details: Type A rental: up to 2 bedrooms rented. Type B rental: 3+ bedrooms, conditional use review. Type A permit renewal: every 2 years. Occupancy requirement: resident lives there 270+ days/year. Permitting agency: Portland Permitting & Development.

Failure to obtain or renew the required Type A or Type B permit, or to provide requested transactional guest data within 30 days of a City request, is a violation subject to enforcement action or permit revocation.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Portland limits Type B accessory short-term rentals to no more than three parking spaces; adding more violates the appearance standard meant to keep the property looking residential under City Code § 33.207.050.

Key details: Parking cap: No more than 3 spaces (Type B). Applies to: Type B short-term rentals (3+ bedrooms). Governing standard: Appearance standard, § 33.207.050.B.9. Review process: Conditional use review, Type II/III.

Adding a fourth parking space, paving setbacks, or other non-residential-looking changes violates the standard; Portland Permitting & Development can revoke the conditional use approval for noncompliance.

Taxes & Fees

Booking agents and rental platforms must collect a $4-per-night Housing and Homelessness Fee on every Portland short-term rental stay of 30 nights or less.

Key details: Fee: $4 per night. Applies to: stays of 1-30 nights. Who pays: booking agent/intermediary. Revenue use: affordable housing, homelessness. Separate from: Chapter 6.04 lodging tax.

The Revenue Division (City Administrator's office) administers the fee; late or unpaid returns draw penalties and interest under Chapter 6.09's due-date and delinquency provisions, which incorporate Section 6.04.135.

The Bottom Line

Portland is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Portland, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Portland's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.