Overview: Are short-term rentals allowed in Naples, ME?

Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in the Town of Naples, Maine, subject to both state and local requirements. As of January 1, 2026, any dwelling unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must be registered with the Town of Naples and must comply with the Town’s Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance. At the state level, a vacation rental must be registered with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine CDC) and obtain a permit; proof of insurance is required to secure that permit. The Naples ordinance is designed to balance the economic opportunity of STRs with neighborhood preservation, safety, and quality-of-life protections.

Sources:

• Naples Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (draft) — www.townofnaples.org/vertical/sites/%7B16A86E29-4A60-4E08-9440-2A862262DC56%7D/uploads/ORC_Meeting_Agenda_Packet_1-15-2025.pdf
• Maine State Law (LD 1588, HP1147) creating a vacation rental registration and permit process — legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/billtexts/HP114701.asp

How to start a short-term rental business in Naples, ME

• Confirm zoning and habitability. Verify that your property is a legal dwelling unit with a certificate of occupancy and is not a dangerous building or otherwise unfit for human habitation.
• Prepare the registration packet. Assemble the required documents (plot plan, floor plan) and information on safety equipment, occupancy, and septic/water compliance.
• Submit Town registration. Apply to the Code Enforcement Officer for Naples STR registration and pay the application fee ($100).
• Complete fire inspection. Schedule and pass the fire/life safety inspection administered by the Fire Chief or designee.
• State permit registration. Register with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine CDC) as a vacation rental and obtain the required state permit; provide proof of appropriate insurance as part of the application.
• Post required materials. Display the STR registration in the unit and post the Town’s “Good Neighbor” flyer.
• Activate operations. Once registration is approved, inspections pass, and the state permit is issued, you can operate. Maintain compliance with performance standards and annual renewal requirements.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

Town of Naples (local) STR registration

• Plot plan of the property showing the STR location, required off-street parking spaces, and the leach field. Hand-drawn or GIS-based plans are acceptable.
• Floor plan drawing showing bedrooms, hallways, emergency exits, and the locations of carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. Hand-drawn plans are acceptable.
• Application fee: $100 (as shown on the Town’s fee schedule referenced in the ordinance).
• Registration validity: One (1) year; registration is not transferable and must be renewed annually or upon any change in ownership/members/managers/officers of the owner entity.
• Registration process: Submit to the Code Enforcement Officer; review for completeness; then the Code Enforcement Officer grants, grants with conditions, or denies the application.
• Transfer of ownership: New registration is required after any ownership change (fire inspection not required at re-registration until the next annual renewal).
• Fire inspection: Required upon initial registration and each annual renewal; conducted by the Fire Chief or designee; no registration is issued until identified issues are resolved to the Chief’s satisfaction.
• Certificate of occupancy: Required for habitability; “dangerous building” designations or orders from the Local Health Officer disqualify a unit from STR operation.

State of Maine vacation rental registration and permit

• State registration: The owner must register the vacation rental with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine CDC).
• State permit: A permit must be obtained from Maine CDC to operate a vacation rental; proof of appropriate insurance must be provided with the application.
• Display: The permit must be displayed in a place readily visible to guests.
• Fees: State fees are determined by the Department based on establishment size; fee schedules are not included in the provided materials.

Safety and habitability

• Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers must be present and shown on the floor plan.
• Water testing: If the water supply is a private well, a water test is required every 3–5 years (state requirement noted in application guidance).
• Septic system: The ordinance references septic size (gallons per day/number of bedrooms). Recommended pumping interval is every three years; indicate the date of the last pumping in the application.

Operational requirements

• Emergency contact: Provide an emergency contact who can respond within three hours 24/7 to address guest issues and safety/operation complaints.
• Occupancy limits: Maximum occupancy is two guests per legally permitted bedroom plus two additional guests.
• Off-street parking: Required for guests; parking must not impede emergency vehicle access.
• Trash disposal: Provide containers; bags must be tied and removed at the end of each rental period.
• Food service: Owners may not prepare or serve food to guests in a manner that would require a Town victualer’s license or a State eating establishment license.
• “Good Neighbor” flyer: Must be posted in the STR.

Complaints, violations, and enforcement

• Complaints: Directed to the Code Enforcement Officer via a Citizen Complaint Form. Complaints that interrupt the quiet enjoyment of neighbors may also be reported to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.
• Enforcement: Code Enforcement Officer investigates, maintains records, and seeks voluntary compliance. Persistent or serious violations may be referred to the Town Manager and Selectboard for review. A public hearing may be held; the Selectboard may condition, suspend, or revoke registration. Decisions are appealable to Maine Superior Court under Rule 80B.
• Penalties: Minimum fine of $100 per violation; each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation; Town may recover attorney’s fees and costs in enforcement actions.
• Appeals: Decisions by town officials may be appealed to the Selectboard within 30 calendar days.

Sources:

• Naples STR Registration Ordinance and Application — www.townofnaples.org/vertical/sites/%7B16A86E29-4A60-4E08-9440-2A862262DC56%7D/uploads/ORC_Meeting_Agenda_Packet_1-15-2025.pdf
• Maine State Law (LD 1588, HP1147) — legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/billtexts/HP114701.asp

Specific regulations for short-term rentals in Naples (Town), Cumberland County (County), and Maine (State)

Town of Naples STR Registration Ordinance (effective January 1, 2026)

• Definitions:
  • Short-Term Rental (STR): A dwelling unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
  • Long-Term Rental: A dwelling unit rented for more than 15 consecutive days.
  • Hosted vs. Un-hosted STRs: Distinction based on owner occupancy during rentals.
• Registration: Required prior to renting; valid for one year; must be renewed annually; non-transferable; re-registration required upon ownership changes.
• Inspections: Fire/life safety inspection by Fire Chief or designee required at registration and each renewal.
• Performance standards:
  • Emergency contact available 24/7, able to respond within three hours.
  • Occupancy: Two guests per legally permitted bedroom plus two additional guests.
  • Off-street parking: Required; cannot impede emergency access.
  • Trash: Containers required; bags tied; removal at end of each rental period.
  • Food: No food preparation or service by owner that would trigger victualer’s or eating establishment licensing.
  • Habitability: Requires certificate of occupancy; cannot be a dangerous building or unfit for habitation.
  • Good Neighbor flyer: Must be posted in the STR.
• Complaints, penalties, enforcement, and appeals: As described above.

Cumberland County

• No county-specific STR regulations are provided in the materials. The Sheriff’s Department is referenced for public safety matters involving neighborhood disturbance; however, county-level licensing or permitting for STRs is not presented in these sources.

State of Maine (22 MRSA Chapter 562, as amended by LD 1588, HP1147)

• Registration and permit: A person may not conduct, control, manage, or operate a vacation rental for compensation without registering with the Department of Health and Human Services and obtaining a permit.
• Insurance: Proof of appropriate insurance is required to obtain the state permit.
• Display: The permit must be displayed in a place readily visible to guests.
• Fees: State fees are set by the Department according to establishment size; maximum fee levels are statutorily capped (e.g., $100 for certain public entities), with fee schedules determined by rulemaking.

Sources:

• Naples STR Registration Ordinance — www.townofnaples.org/vertical/sites/%7B16A86E29-4A60-4E08-9440-2A862262DC56%7D/uploads/ORC_Meeting_Agenda_Packet_1-15-2025.pdf
• Maine State Law (LD 1588, HP1147) — legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/billtexts/HP114701.asp

Contact information for local authority in charge of STRs

• Code Enforcement Officer (Town of Naples): Handles STR registration applications, inspections coordination, and enforcement. Specific phone and email were not provided in the materials.
• Fire Chief or designee (Town of Naples): Conducts STR fire/life safety inspections.
• Naples Harbor Master: (207) 615-8445 — Referenced in the “Good Neighbor” flyer for marine-related issues.
• Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department: Appropriate for complaints affecting the quiet enjoyment of residents.
• Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine CDC): State registration and permit for vacation rentals.

Sources:

• Naples STR Registration Ordinance (contacts and processes) — www.townofnaples.org/vertical/sites/%7B16A86E29-4A60-4E08-9440-2A862262DC56%7D/uploads/ORC_Meeting_Agenda_Packet_1-15-2025.pdf
• Good Neighbor flyer (Harbor Master contact) — www.townofnaples.org/vertical/sites/%7B16A86E29-4A60-4E08-9440-2A862262DC56%7D/uploads/ORC_Meeting_Agenda_Packet_1-15-2025.pdf

Links to source pages

• Town of Naples Ordinance Review Committee Meeting Packet (Jan 15, 2025) — STR Registration Ordinance draft, Application, and Good Neighbor Flyer — www.townofnaples.org/vertical/sites/%7B16A86E29-4A60-4E08-9440-2A862262DC56%7D/uploads/ORC_Meeting_Agenda_Packet_1-15-2025.pdf
• Maine State Law (HP1147, LD 1588): Registration Process and Permits for Vacation Rentals — legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/billtexts/HP114701.asp
• Third-party overview (not official): Naples, Maine STR management and market overview (general market context only) — www.gosummer.com/vacation-rental-management/naples-maine

Notes for investors:

• Timeline: Town registration becomes effective January 1, 2026. Plan permitting and inspections to be in place before operations begin in 2026.
• Zoning: The materials do not present zoning-specific allowances or restrictions for STRs; confirm zoning compliance with the Code Enforcement Officer.
• Insurance: State permit requires proof of appropriate insurance; carry sufficient liability and property coverage for short-term rental operations.
• Operations: The “Good Neighbor” flyer outlines expectations for noise, parking, lake protection, trash, and wildlife respect; internalizing these expectations into guest communications and house rules will reduce complaints and support good standing with the Town.