Board fears loss of community, town puts out short-term rental survey
Aug 06, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop.
TREMONT—On May 13, 2024 Tremont voters decided not to support a proposed short-term rental (STR) licensing ordinance by two votes. The tally of the 240 people who voted was 118 yes votes, 120 no votes, and 2 blanks.
Now, because of new state legislation, the Select Board is thinking about trying again, but this time the ordinance will be more narrowly focused on avoiding the potential possibilities for more short-term rentals provided by LD 2173, An Act to Update the Laws Regarding Housing Developments and Accessory Dwelling Units.
The law was approved by Governor Janet Mills and enacted on April 16, 2026, and gives Maine municipalities until July 1, 2027 to come into compliance.
LD 2173 amends and clarifies portions of LD 1829, An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density. LD 1829 was approved by Governor Mills and enacted on June 20, 2025.
Towns with no governing ordinance in place for STRs are susceptible to unfettered and potentially enormous growth in short-term rental units.
LD 2173 requires municipalities to allow three dwelling units on a lot “in which residential uses are allowed” or four dwelling units on a lot that is “in a designated growth area, as identified in a comprehensive plan.”
Tremont’s 2023 Comprehensive Plan identifies two designated growth areas, the Village Growth area and the Kelleytown Growth area. Those areas could potentially allow four dwelling units on a lot.
According to Tremont Code Enforcement Officer Angela Chamberlain, outside of these growth areas, the vast majority of land in Tremont allows residential uses which open those areas up to a potential three dwelling units per lot.
At the August 3 Select Board meeting, the topic of a second attempt at a short-term rental ordinance was discussed by the board. CEO Chamberlain had come to the Select Board looking for direction and guidance in preparation to creating a potential ordinance.
The first order of business was for Chair Jamie Thurlow to make it clear that both he and member Kevin Buck own short-term rentals and after discussion with the town’s attorney determined that because the majority of their incomes is not derived from short-term rentals that they did not need to recuse themselves and could participate in conversations about short-term rentals. Thurlow asked the rest of the board members if anyone had an issue with he or Buck participating and nobody did.
Thurlow said that the first time around, when the short-term rental ordinance failed, he had a lot of local residents say that they need the income to help live here.
“I completely understand, I am one hundred percent not against that at all. I don’t want to restrict anyone’s land like that,” Thurlow said. “The biggest thing that I think we have to watch out for is investors coming in, buying up large chunks of land, and developing it. If you buy 10 acres at that point, you could really put in a ton of (short-term) housing. That’s just what I would like to not see.”
Vice Chair McKenzie Jewett asked if they could “do this again,” meaning put another ordinance relating to STRs before the voters after it has been voted down.
You can put forth a different plan, responded Town Manager Jesse Dunbar.
Member Ben Harper said that he would like some time to look over all of the information provided by CEO Chamberlain before the Board makes any firm decisions on direction for a potential ordinance.
“I think some of it might be worth discussing tonight to be honest,” said Buck. “I mean, I am kind of on board with you, Jamie, I think it’s really important that we keep it available and I think it should be a different category for residents rather than out of town investors who are buying up a bunch of properties.”
Buck said that he would like to know how many properties are currently STRs just so they could have an idea and try to get a handle on STR growth and how many are resident owned versus how many have been bought by investors and also how many houses in general have been taken off the market for residential housing.
“I think with this density change it’s going to get a lot worse,” he said. “It would be really nice to keep a community here rather than just a bunch of summer rentals.”
Buck said that is his aim for doing this and that he doesn’t want a bunch of restrictions and a heavy handed regulatory environment.
Jewett asked if the town knew approximately how many STRs they had in town and Dunbar responded that he thinks it is around 329. The total number of dwellings currently in Tremont, according to Dunbar, is somewhere around 1,200. So, in theory, a quarter of the town’s housing stock is currently STRs.
Member Eric Eaton said that the last potential ordinance “got blown way out of proportion and it wasn’t what anyone was really looking to do.”
One member of the public said that he lives on McKinley Lane and his house is surrounded by short-term rentals.
“Every house is being bought up just for profit,” he said. “My kids don’t have neighbors, no kids to grow up with my kids. How can I have a sternman if there are no houses to rent?”
“Have you ever rented to year-round people? It’s a nightmare, a nightmare,” said another member of the public.
Buck said that one of his biggest issues is that the increased density legislation is meant to promote housing and rental opportunities for residents, families, and workers, and to see it all go to STRs will be detrimental to towns.
The issue of ownership and/or management on a local level versus an off island owner or manager for communication and control purposes was a large topic of conversation.
Fire Chief Keith Higgins said that the fire department has had issues, when they respond to STRs, getting in contact with any sort of owner or manager and some sort of a registration process for information such as that would be helpful.
A cap on occupancy or regulations on allowable sleeping areas would also be helpful, said Higgins.
Eaton said that if the board is going to try again for a STR ordinance it needs to stay focused on the need at hand and that is controlling the potential for STR expansion due to the new state legislation.
There were a couple of apparent common goals amongst the Select Board that may go into a new STR ordinance: a preference for resident ownership of STRs, and a set minimum stay requirement.
In the end, the board decided to give itself some more time to look over the information that CEO Chamberlain had given them before they made any decisions.
CEO Chamberlain suggested that the board start slow, maybe with a registration process so that the town can get a handle on how many STRs there are and who owns them. Then, the board can add whatever it wants at a later time.
Eaton again said that he feels that the board should focus on the legislation and getting a handle on that and not focus on the past and what already exists.
Since the meeting, on August 4, a short-term rental survey was created and posted on the town’s Facebook page. The town said, “the town would like to hear from residents, property owners, business owners, and visitors.”
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
All photos: Shaun Farrar/Carrie Jones/BHS
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