Salem, OR Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Salem, OR, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License required
- City license under SRC 30.1000 before operating
- Term
- Expires every December 31, not transferable
- Renewal deadline
- File at least 30 days before expiration
- Inspection cycle
- At least once every 5 calendar years
- Unlicensed operation penalty
- Infraction under SRC 30.075
- Civil penalty
- Up to $2,000 per violation per day
Summary
Operating an accessory short-term rental in Salem requires a City license under SRC 30.1000 before any booking, on top of the special-use standards in SRC 700.006. The license is issued for a calendar year, expires every December 31, and cannot be transferred to a new operator or a different property.
(a)An accessory short-term rental license shall be effective when issued, and shall expire on December 31 of the year it is issued, unless sooner suspended or revoked. The license may be renewed pursuant to SRC 30.055.(b)An accessory short-term rental license shall designate the operator and the property approved under the license. Licenses shall not be transferable to other people or properties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
1000 makes a City-issued license mandatory before a property owner or resident family can operate an accessory short-term rental. The license takes effect on issuance, expires every December 31 regardless of when it was granted, and is tied to a specific operator and property; it cannot be transferred if the home sells or the operator changes. 1005(h). 1005 requires the operator to maintain a guest registry available to the Director on request, carry liability insurance covering the rental use for the full license term, include the license number on every advertisement or listing, and comply with the City's Housing Code under SRC chapter 59.
1010 to confirm the guest-room count and Housing Code compliance. Renewal applications are due at least 30 days before the December 31 expiration; missing that window means starting over with a brand-new license application.
Violations & Fines
Operating without first getting the license is an infraction under SRC 30.075. Violating the license's terms, such as skipping the guest registry or advertising without the license number, is an infraction under SRC 30.080, and knowingly continuing to rent after the license is suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor under SRC 30.085. The Director may also levy a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation, with each day of noncompliance counted as a separate violation, under SRC 30.070.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Salem?
How long does a Salem short-term rental license last?
Can I sell my house and transfer my short-term rental license to the buyer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salem
How Salem compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Salem to another location·View the Oregon short-term rentals overview
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