PORTLAND, Maine — Officials in Portland say they plan to pursue looser regulations for short-term rentals in the city.
The Portland Press Herald reports that the City Council’s Housing Committee agreed in principle Wednesday with a framework that would allow people to rent out their private homes and operate short-term rentals in apartment buildings.
City staff have been discussing short-term rental regulations amid the growing popularity of Airbnb, which allows people to advertise their rooms, apartments and homes for a relatively short period.
The city last month proposed rules that would restrict short-term rentals to primary residences and require yearly registration. Committee members now say those rules were too strict.
Short-term rentals aren’t allowed in Portland but the city has stopped enforcing zoning rules against violators.