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

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Portland, Oregon, there are 12 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.

Occupancy Limits

Portland caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two additional, not to exceed a total defined by permit type under PCC Chapter 33.207.

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Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Portland code enforcement](https://www.portland.gov/code/33/207) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

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.

Host Presence Rule

Portland's Type A short-term rental permit under PCC 33.207 authorizes only owner-occupied home shares where the host lives in the dwelling at least 270 nights per year, sharing or temporarily vacating the unit while up to two bedrooms are rented.

Key details: Permit type: Type A (PCC 33.207). Host occupancy: 270 nights/year. Bedroom max: 2 (Type A). Neighbor notice: Within 150 feet.

Operating a Type A short-term rental without occupying the dwelling 270 nights per year exposes hosts to permit revocation, fines up to $1,500 per violation, platform delisting, and assessed Transient Lodging Tax on illegal nights.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Portland actively enforces its host presence rule requirements.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Whole-home and non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in Portland require a Type B conditional use permit under PCC 33.207, with land-use review, distance spacing requirements between B permits, and stricter Bureau of Development Services oversight.

Key details: Permit type: Type B conditional use. Review: BDS Type II/III. Authority: PCC 33.207. HOA sign-off: Often required.

Operating without a required Type B permit exposes owners to stop-work orders, fines exceeding $1,000 per occurrence, permit denial of future applications, and back assessment of Transient Lodging Tax plus penalties.

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.

Host Platform Liability

Airbnb, Vrbo, and other booking platforms operating in Portland must verify a valid city short-term rental permit number on each listing, remit Transient Lodging Tax directly, and respond to city takedown requests under PCC 6.04 and Multnomah County rules.

Key details: Tax authority: PCC 6.04. Permit display: Required on listing. TLT rate: ~6% city portion. Takedown response: Required by ordinance.

Platforms hosting unpermitted Portland listings or failing to remit Transient Lodging Tax face city civil penalties, audit assessments, and possible referral to the Oregon Department of Revenue for state tax enforcement.

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 Bureau of Development Services may suspend or revoke Accessory Short-Term Rental permits for repeated violations of PCC 33.207, including unpermitted operation, occupancy overages, party-house complaints, and unpaid Transient Lodging Tax, with multi-year application bars.

Key details: Strike threshold: 2-3 in 12 months. Reapplication bar: Up to 5 years. Appeal forum: Code Hearings Officer. Per-violation fine: $500-$5,000.

Repeated short-term rental violations can revoke the permit for up to five years, trigger fines from $500 to $5,000 per occurrence, and result in liens against the property for unpaid Transient Lodging Tax assessments.

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.

Insurance Requirements

Portland STR permit applicants must certify liability insurance of at least 500,000 dollars; platform host protection programs like AirCover can meet the requirement.

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Registration Rules

Portland requires an Accessory Short-Term Rental permit from the Bureau of Development Services, a safety inspection, and display of the permit number in every listing under PCC 33.207.

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Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Portland code enforcement](https://www.portland.gov/bds/astr) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

Compared to other cities, Portland takes a harder line on registration rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Permit Requirements

Portland requires an Accessory Short-Term Rental (ASTR) permit for all STRs. Only primary residences qualify. Type A permits allow up to 2 bedrooms/5 guests; Type B (conditional use) allows 3–5 bedrooms. Permit fees: $65 for single dwellings, $105 for multi-dwelling units.

Key details: Permit Required: ASTR permit — Type A ($65 single/$105 multi) or Type B (conditional use). Primary Residence: Must occupy 270+ days/year. Absent-Owner Rental: Max 95 nights/year. Max Guests (Type A): 5 overnight guests, 2 bedrooms. Code: Portland Zoning Code Chapter 33.207.

Operating without permit: fines starting at $100/day. Enforcement via Portland Permitting & Development: 503-823-2633.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Portland actively enforces its permit requirements requirements.

Night Caps

Portland Accessory Short-Term Rental (ASTR) Type A permits under PCC 33.207 allow whole-home rental for up to 95 nights per calendar year when the operator-owner is absent. Type B short-term rentals under PCC 33.208 require a conditional use review and have no general night cap but cannot operate in commercial/industrial zones since October 2024.

Key details: Type A Code: PCC 33.207. Type B Code: PCC 33.208. Absent-Owner Cap (Type A): 95 nights per calendar year. Primary Residence: 270+ days/year occupancy. Max Guests (Type A): 5 overnight guests / 2 bedrooms.

Operating beyond 95 nights without owner presence, or operating without a permit, triggers Portland Permitting and Development (PP&D) enforcement: stop-rent orders, daily fines starting at $100, and revocation. Repeat violations may result in 10-year ban on permit eligibility for the property.

Compared to other cities, Portland takes a harder line on night caps. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Parking Rules

Portland Zoning Code Chapter 33.266 governs off-street parking for short-term rentals. ASTRs in Type A permits do not require additional off-street parking beyond the residential standard. Type B operations may have parking conditions imposed through the conditional use review under PCC 33.208 and 33.815.

Key details: Type A Parking: No STR-specific minimum; follows residential standard PCC 33.266. Type B Parking: Conditions set in conditional use review (PCC 33.815). On-Street: PBOT Title 16 / area permit programs apply. Host Liability: Responsible for guest parking compliance. Citation Range: $39-$65 typical PBOT fines.

Parking violations are handled by PBOT (citations $39-$65 typical). Repeat parking complaints can be cited as a factor in ASTR permit nonrenewal or revocation by PP&D, which may also impose additional conditions on Type B operations through the conditional use review process.

Noise Rules

Portland STR guests are subject to the same Title 18 Noise Control Code as residents. Hosts are responsible for guest conduct. Quiet hours are 10 PM–7 AM. Permit violations from noise complaints can trigger ASTR permit suspension.

Key details: Quiet Hours: 10 PM–7 AM (PCC Title 18). Host Liability: Hosts responsible for guest compliance. Permit Risk: Repeated complaints can trigger permit suspension/revocation. Enforcement: Portland Police Bureau Noise Program.

Noise violation at STR: $250 to $1,000. Multiple complaints: permit suspension/revocation. Host responsible for guest behavior.

Taxes & Fees

Portland short-term rental operators must collect and remit a combined 11.5% Transient Lodging Tax: 6% Portland city tax under PCC Chapter 6.04, plus a 5.5% Multnomah County tax (3% county + 2.5% Metro/Visitor Facilities). Hosting platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) typically collect and remit on behalf of operators. State lodging tax of 1.5% is additional.

Key details: Portland City Tax: 6% (PCC 6.04). Multnomah County Tax: 5.5% (3% county + 2.5% Metro). State Lodging Tax: 1.5% (ORS 320.305). Combined Rate: 13.0% total on transient lodging. Platform Collection: Airbnb / Vrbo collect city and county portions.

Failure to collect or remit triggers Portland Revenue Division audit, 25% failure-to-file penalty, 1.5%/month interest, and possible ASTR permit revocation. Multnomah County and Oregon DOR pursue their portions separately. Willful evasion may be a misdemeanor under PCC 6.04.

Compared to other cities, Portland takes a harder line on taxes & fees. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Portland is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 12 rules covered here, 9 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.