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Planning Board Reopens Short-Term Rentals Discussion, Asks Staff for Options and Data Sources
Summary
Board members agreed to start tracking short-term rentals and asked staff for legal options and data sources (including state lodging tax records). Members cited concerns about investor conversions after property revaluation and asked for policy tools to consider.
The Lewiston Planning Board reopened discussion on whether to track and eventually regulate short-term rentals in the city and asked staff to prepare options, sample language and data sources for future consideration.
Board member Zoe Litstrom framed the request as a data-first approach: "I still think that it would be a great idea to just keep track of these so that we kind of know what's going on should we decide at some point in the future that maybe there does need to be some level of regulation." She asked staff to return with a feasible path for tracking units (for example, a checkbox on rental permits or inclusion in home-business applications) and a summary of what is legally available under state law.
Members raised distinct concerns. Amy Smith warned that property revaluation could spur investors to buy single-family homes and convert them to short-term rentals, saying, "I have a big concern that with the revaluation ... there's a very real possibility of a lot of investors swooping in and buying up those homes and converting them to Airbnbs." Other members emphasized balancing homeowner needs (for example, renting a room to help afford a mortgage) with the potential loss of starter homes and recommended exploring caps, registration fees, and licensing.
Board members discussed enforcement and data sources: staff and members cited state lodging tax records and online platforms as potential data points. One member clarified legal constraints on local lodging taxes: "we don't have the ability currently under state law to levy a lodging tax at the municipal level," and recommended identifying what state-collected data is available for local review.
The board asked staff to compile: (1) a clear definition of short-term rental options and distinctions (e.g., vacation rental vs furnished short-term rental); (2) legal options (registration with or without fees, business licensing, caps); and (3) potential data sources (state lodging tax records, listings on commercial platforms) and sample ordinances from peer communities. No formal action or vote was taken; the board expects staff to return with a report.
