Is Airbnb legal in Portland, OR?

Restricted

These rules are changing or in active litigation. Verify the current status directly before you rely on it.

Airbnb is restricted in Portland, OR

Only bedrooms within a resident-occupied dwelling qualify; the resident must live on-site at least 270 days a year and may be absent up to 95 days while guests stay. Whole-home investor STRs do not qualify.

Portland City Code Ch. 33.207 (Accessory STRs)View the ordinance

Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.

Key rules at a glance

Permit or registration

Required

Primary residence only

Yes

Annual night cap

95 nights

Registration fee

See ordinance

How short-term rentals work in Portland

The first step in Portland is the city's permit or registration process; check the ordinance for the current fee. The primary-residence requirement is the rule that shapes everything else here. Factor the 95-night annual cap into any revenue projection. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Only owner-occupants can run a short-term rental in Portland. Non-owner, investor-owned whole-home STRs are generally not permitted, which rules out the classic buy-and-Airbnb strategy here.

At the state level, Oregon leaves short-term rental rules to cities and counties.

What it means for investors

Portland is a tough market for a non-owner-occupied short-term rental. If you own or want to buy here, a long-term rental or a house-hack (living in the property while renting part of it) is usually the more realistic play.

Analyze a rental hereCheck long-term rent

Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Portland?

Only bedrooms within a resident-occupied dwelling qualify; the resident must live on-site at least 270 days a year and may be absent up to 95 days while guests stay. Whole-home investor STRs do not qualify. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.

Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Portland?

Yes. Portland requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.

Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Portland?

Generally no. Portland limits short-term rentals to the host's primary residence, so an investor-owned property you do not live in typically cannot be used as a whole-home STR.

Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Portland?

Yes. Portland caps rentals at about 95 nights a year for the relevant category (often unhosted or non-primary stays); hosted stays are frequently uncapped. Confirm which cap applies to your setup.

What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Portland?

Short-term rentals in Portland are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Oregon and the city.