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Planning board debates gaps in Rockport short-term rental rules, including ADU usage and tracking
Summary
Members said Rockport currently has only a definition for short-term rentals and lacks registration or tracking; they discussed a previously proposed ordinance that the select board declined to pursue and noted nearby towns have more comprehensive regulation.
At the Oct. 23 meeting, board members raised concerns about gaps in Rockport’s short-term rental (STR) regulation, particularly how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) might be used as STRs and how the town would track or enforce rules.
"We don't have any way of tracking it," one member said, noting the ordinance currently contains only a definition for short-term rentals and no registration or regulatory mechanism. Members recalled that the planning board previously recommended an ordinance regulating STRs and ADU use but that the select board did not take the proposal up for discussion and it lapsed.
Participants mentioned neighboring towns that maintain STR rules, including Rockland, Camden and Belfast. Board members suggested Rockport could review those ordinances for possible measures such as owner-occupancy requirements, permits, parking standards and registration to improve enforcement.
No new ordinance was proposed or voted on at the meeting; members agreed the issue should be revisited and that staff should provide copies of past proposals and sample ordinances from other municipalities for the board to consider.
