Camden Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Residential Short-Term Rental License

The property must be your primary residence. This means investment properties are not eligible for this permit type.

Commercial Short-Term Rental License

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Application Process

Apply annually to the Code Enforcement Officer (online portal available on the Town website); applications accepted year-round; renewal applications due on or before January 1 for a license that expires December 31 each year; the Town must approve or issue a denial within 30 calendar days of submission; a Code Enforcement Officer life-safety inspection is required at least once every 3 years.

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 9% of gross rental income.

Collection: Self-remit: STR licensees must pay any applicable Maine state lodging tax; the tax is generally collected by the person who owns, manages, or operates the rental (or collects the rental payment) and remitted to Maine Revenue Services.

Rental Limits

Camden does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent. Each individual stay must be 28 consecutive days or fewer per stay.

Zoning & Restrictions

Camden Chapter 215 licenses two types of Short-Term Rental. A Residential (owner-occupied) license costs $350 and requires that the applicant be the record owner and maintain the property as their primary residence. Non-owner-occupied rentals are licensed as Commercial ($1,000) or, for limited-season operation, Seasonal ($500); neither requires a primary residence, but the applicant must instead demonstrate that a responsible operator is available 24 hours a day to respond to on-site emergencies within 30-45 minutes. All licenses are defined and regulated as permitted uses in specific zoning districts under Chapter 290, and only the record owner may hold an STR license — property management companies, renters, and lessees are not eligible to apply. The adopted ordinance sets no numerical limit on the total number of Short-Term Rental licenses of either type, and every qualifying applicant may be licensed on a rolling, first-come basis. (An earlier working revision of the 2024 update proposed additional limits specific to Commercial rentals, but the Select Board removed that language before the Article 7 text was certified for the June 11, 2024 referendum, so the ordinance in force since January 1, 2025 imposes no such ceiling.)

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Camden does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Fire escape routes and emergency exits
• Fire suppression systems
• Electrical safety
• General property safety
• Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System (SSWD) verification per State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules
• Life safety inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer at least once every 3 years

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• $100-$5,000 civil penalty per violation under the state municipal land-use enforcement statute (30-A M.R.S.A. §4452) that Camden Code §215-15 incorporates by reference
• Penalties may be assessed on a per-day, per-violation basis for continuing violations
• Up to $25,000 maximum penalty if the violator has a prior conviction for the same violation within the preceding 2 years
• License may be conditioned, suspended, revoked, or denied by the Code Enforcement Officer for noncompliance with any law, ordinance, regulation, or license condition

Platform Requirements

Any advertisement or online listing for a licensed Short-Term Rental must display the unique STR license number and include a calendar showing booked dates and cancellations.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Camden:

1. Determine your permit type. Camden has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Residential Short-Term Rental License, Commercial Short-Term Rental License).
2. Meet safety requirements. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Fire escape routes and emergency exits. Fire suppression systems. Electrical safety. General property safety. Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System (SSWD) verification per State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules. Life safety inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer at least once every 3 years.
3. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Residential Short-Term Rental License $350; Commercial Short-Term Rental License $500-$1,000. See permit types above to determine which applies.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Maine Revenue Services.
5. Display your permit number. Include your permit/license number in all listings and advertisements.
6. Collect and remit taxes. 9% on all bookings.
7. Renew annually. Renewal fees vary by permit type ($350 / $500-$1,000). See permit types above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Camden?

Yes. Camden requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types — one requires the property to be your primary residence, and another allows non-owner-occupied (investment) use. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Camden?

A short-term rental permit in Camden costs $350.

Does Camden require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

It depends on the permit type. At least one Camden permit requires the property to be your primary residence, while another allows non-owner-occupied (investment) use — see the permit types above.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Camden?

Camden does not cap the total number of nights per year, but each individual stay must be 28 consecutive days or fewer.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Camden?

Short-term rental stays in Camden are subject to a 9% Maine State Sales Tax (Rentals of Lodging). The host is responsible for collecting and remitting it.