Portland Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Type A Accessory Short-Term Rental Permit (up to 2 bedrooms, max 5 guests)

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

Type B Accessory Short-Term Rental Conditional Use (3-5 bedrooms, max 10 guests)

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

Application Process

Register as Portland business; submit application with floor plans and notification letter to neighborhood association and nearby neighbors; city inspects bedrooms for building code compliance, fire/life-safety, and detector installation; Oregon Driver's License required for residency verification

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

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 16% of gross rental income.

Collection: Operators collect tax from transients at time of payment; booking agents/intermediaries responsible for collecting and remitting when they collect payment; must register with Revenue Division within 15 days of commencing business

Filing: Quarterly; returns due by last day of month following each calendar quarter; Portland city tax quarterly or monthly as required by Revenue Division

Rental Limits

Portland annual day limit: No limit on total rental nights; max 95 days per year when resident absent. Each individual stay must be 29 days or fewer.

Occupancy & Density Limits

Type A: max 2 bedrooms, max 5 guests; Type B: max 5 bedrooms, max 10 guests (determined by Conditional Use Review); multi-dwelling structures limited to 1 unit or 25% of total units

Zoning & Restrictions

Allowed in all zones; Type B prohibited in commercial/mixed use, employment, and industrial zones; multi-dwelling structures limited to 1 unit or 25% of units; 6+ bedrooms requires commercial building code compliance; resident must occupy 270+ days/year

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Portland 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. No specific insurance requirement in Portland ASTR regulations.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Interconnected smoke detectors (hardwired or wireless) in each rented bedroom and adjacent hallway; carbon monoxide alarms on each floor with rented bedrooms; bedrooms must meet building code sleeping room standards; city inspection required

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Transient lodging tax: 10% original delinquency penalty plus 1% monthly interest, additional 15% for continued delinquency, 25% for fraud; booking agent violations $1,000 per violation per day; permit revocation with 2-year ban; monthly code enforcement fees for safety violations

Platform Requirements

• Booking agents cannot complete transactions for STRs not listed in city registry
• Must register with Revenue Division
• Cannot collect fees for services related to unregistered properties

Compliance Checklist

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

1. Determine your permit type. Portland has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Type A Accessory Short-Term Rental Permit (up to 2 bedrooms, max 5 guests), Type B Accessory Short-Term Rental Conditional Use (3-5 bedrooms, max 10 guests)).
2. Meet safety requirements. Interconnected smoke detectors (hardwired or wireless) in each rented bedroom and adjacent hallway; carbon monoxide alarms on each floor with rented bedrooms; bedrooms must meet building code sleeping room standards; city inspection required.
3. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Type A Accessory Short-Term Rental Permit (up to 2 bedrooms, max 5 guests) $400; Type B Accessory Short-Term Rental Conditional Use (3-5 bedrooms, max 10 guests) $9,005 (land use review). See permit types above to determine which applies.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up the applicable state and local lodging/occupancy tax accounts before your first booking.
5. Collect and remit taxes. 16% on all bookings.
6. Renew every 2 years. Renewal fees vary by permit type ($400 / $245/year). See permit types above.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Portland requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

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

A short-term rental permit in Portland costs $400.

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

Yes. Every Portland permit type requires the property to be your primary residence, so investment or non-owner-occupied rentals generally are not eligible.

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

Portland's annual rental limit depends on the situation: No limit on total rental nights; max 95 days per year when resident absent.

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

Short-term rental stays in Portland are subject to a combined 16% in lodging taxes. This combines 6% Portland Transient Lodgings Tax + 1.5% Oregon State Transient Lodging Tax + 5.5% Multnomah County Transient Lodgings Tax + 3% Portland Tourism Improvement District (TID) Fee. The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Portland?

Penalties run up to $1,000 per violation (see the Penalties section for the full schedule).