Maine Statewide Rule

Maine state law: no statewide host-presence rule; municipal tiers govern

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Maine has no statewide requirement that an STR host be physically present during guest stays. Host-presence rules are set by municipal ordinance under 30-A MRS § 3001.

Key Facts

Statewide Host-Presence Rule: None
ADU Owner-Occupancy: Preempted by 30-A § 4364-A
Authority for Local Rule: 30-A MRS § 3001
Local Contact Common In: Portland, Kennebunkport, Bar Harbor

Last verified: 2026-06-02

Full Breakdown

The Maine Revised Statutes do not require an STR host or local agent to be physically on-site during guest stays. Host-presence and local-contact rules are set entirely by municipal ordinance under 30-A MRS § 3001. Common Maine municipal frameworks: (a) tiered registration distinguishing owner-occupied (host present) and non-owner-occupied (host absent) STRs - Portland's program; (b) license caps tied to operator residency - Bar Harbor's VR1/VR2 categories; (c) requirement for a designated local contact reachable 24/7 to respond to complaints, common in Portland and Kennebunkport. The 30-A MRS § 4364-A ADU statute affirmatively prohibits municipalities from REQUIRING owner-occupancy as a condition of operating an ADU - removing one tool a municipality might otherwise use to enforce an indirect host-presence rule. Maine's 36 MRS § 1811 lodging-tax structure treats all stays under 28 days identically regardless of host presence.

Violations & Penalties

Municipal STR-permit denial, fines, and revocation for violation of a local host-presence or local-contact ordinance; no state-level penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I be on-site during STR guest stays in Maine?

No statewide requirement. Host-presence is governed entirely by local ordinance under 30-A MRS § 3001. Many Maine STR codes distinguish owner-occupied from non-owner-occupied tiers; most also require a designated local contact reachable 24/7 for complaints.

Can a Maine city require me to live on the property to operate an STR in my ADU?

Not as an owner-occupancy mandate. Under 30-A MRS § 4364-A (LD 2003), municipalities may not require owner-occupancy of the primary dwelling or ADU. They can still require a designated local contact for STR operations.

Sources

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