Rental Rules by City / Oregon / Salem
Salem short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Yes, with a permit
- Do I need a permit?
- Yes, a city STR license ($320).
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 12.5%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Get the city STR license.
- Add the license number to listings.
- Collect 9% TOT + 2% TPA.
⚠️ Biggest risk: Leaving the license number off listings.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Oregon state lodging tax 1.5% + Salem transient occupancy tax 9% + Salem Tourism Promotion Area fee 2% = 12.5%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. 12.5% total. Oregon's state lodging tax rises from 1.5% to 2.75% for stays charged on or after Jan 1, 2027 (Oregon DOR). The 2% TPA fee applies to STRs under Ordinance Bill adopted March 23, 2026.
What Airbnb collects: Verify in payouts which taxes your platform remits.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| License | City Short-Term Rental License (or Accessory STR License): $320 new (prorated), $186 renewal (FY fee schedule). |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Liability insurance covering STR use; local representative contact info; city license number on every listing. Some zones need a conditional use permit. |
| Taxes | 9% TOT plus 2% Tourism Promotion Area fee, remitted to the City. |
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
Salem'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.
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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.
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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.