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: 15% 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 per stay.

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 hotel occupancy tax accounts with the city tax authority.
5. Collect and remit taxes. 15% 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 15% in lodging taxes. This combines 6% Portland Transient Lodgings Tax + 1.5% Oregon State Transient Lodging Tax + 5.5% Multnomah County Transient Lodging Tax + 2% Travel Portland / Tourism Improvement District. The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.