Commission to study short-term rentals in unorganized territory amid complaints from residents

MAINE PUBLIC • March 9, 2023

The Land Use Planning Commission stopped short of issuing a moratorium on short-term rentals in unorganized territories on Wednesday, but said the proliferation of Airbnb and Vrbo listings — numbering more than 500 — is resulting in complaints from residents in those areas. Among residents' complaints is the strain on territory wastewater systems that are designed based on the number of bedrooms a property has, but can be overwhelmed when short-term rental occupancy exceeds capacity limits. Parking and noise issues have also been reported. The commission requested that the staff do is additional research.