Rental Rules by City / Maine / Kennebunkport
Kennebunkport short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Only in some areas
- Do I need a permit?
- Only with an annual town license, subject to a cap.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 9%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Apply from Oct 1.
- Check cap availability.
- Collect Maine's 9% tax.
⚠️ Biggest risk: Advertising before licensing.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Maine rental of living quarters tax 9% = 9%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. Maine 9% lodging tax.
What Airbnb collects: Verify in payouts which taxes your platform remits.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| License | Annual town STR license (Ch. 129) before advertising; 2027 applications opened Oct 1, 2026. |
|---|---|
| Cap | Overall license cap; Goose Rocks Beach exempt from the cap only. Fees: verify. |
Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.
Sources
Free tools
Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator
Rules can change
Kennebunkport's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.
Want it done for you?
Get a personalized STR Compliance Check ($49) for your exact address in any US city: the permits, registrations and tax accounts you need, with official sources, delivered by email in 48 business hours. Not legal advice.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund PolicyHow we verify.
Stay Compliant: $4.99/month
Rules, tax rates and Airbnb/Vrbo policies can change without warning, and hosts who miss a change can be fined. Get alerts when your city, county or state changes, deadline reminders, a pending-bill watch list and a monthly host brief (even in quiet months: "we checked on [date]; no changes"). Compare plans.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy.
Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.