Bill > LD1181

This bill clarifies the authority of municipalities to regulate short-term rental units by explicitly allowing them to require municipal assessors to assign a specific land use code that designates these units as either commercial or residential in use. Under this bill, a short-term rental unit would be considered "commercial in use" if it is not the primary residence of the owner, and "residential in use" if it is the owner's primary residence. The bill amends existing Maine state law to provide municipalities with more precise tools for classifying and regulating short-term rental properties. This classification could potentially impact property taxation, zoning regulations, and efforts to manage housing availability, as municipalities seek to balance the growth of short-term rental platforms with local housing production goals. The bill defines short-term rental units as living quarters offered for rental through a transient rental platform, which provides a clear legal definition for municipal use.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1181&snum=132