Acadia region towns without short-term rental regulation prepare for upcoming state legislation enactment.
Aug 21, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn.
TRENTON—Approximately 7.3% of Trenton’s current housing stock are vacation rentals, people attending a standing-room-only meeting of the town’s planning board learned, August 12.
After completing its regular business, the Trenton Planning Board held a discussion regarding short-term rentals (STR) and welcomed the public to gather its input on the subject of STRs. The meeting began with a slide show presenting information and ideas that the Planning Board had put together prior.
According to the slides presented by the Planning Board, Trenton has approximately 1,600 residents with 1,100 residences, of which, 412 of those claim Homestead Exemption Credit as full-time residents.
The board found that there are approximately 80 STRs listed on the sites VRBO and AirBnB. Most of these STRs are in residential neighborhoods. That number represents 7.2% of Trenton’s homes.
Because of new state legislation, all of the towns without existing short-term rental regulations within the Bar Harbor Story’s coverage area have recently begun or reintroduced talks regarding local ordinances governing STRs or at the very least, studies to understand how STRs are impacting their housing stock. Trenton now joins the group of Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, and Tremont. Ellsworth has also been discussing STRs.
While still almost a year away, July 1, 2027, is the day when Maine municipalities have to be in compliance with new affordable housing laws and many towns are scrambling to create ordinances to help prevent the potential for STR expansion due to the new state legislation.
LD 1829, An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density was approved by Governor Janet Mills and enacted on June 20, 2025.
LD 2173, An Act to Update the Laws Regarding Housing Developments and Accessory Dwelling Units was approved by Governor Mills and enacted on April 16, 2026, and gives Maine municipalities until July 1, 2027 to come into compliance.
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.”
For Trenton, the intent of a potential ordinance regulating STRs, according to the Planning Board, would be regulation of the usage rather than prohibition of the usage. Recognizing that year-round residents often benefit from STRs remaining a permitted use the board would like to focus on “limiting incentives for the expansion of investor-owned short-term rental properties.”
The Planning Board proposes that regulation “focus on neighborhood compatibility, public health and safety, and owner accountability.” The board would also propose that any regulations put in place apply to both existing and future STRs in regards to “registration, inspection, and operational requirements.”
The Planning Board identified what it perceives as benefits from STRs.
- “Revenue for owners and local businesses.
- “Nine percent lodging tax for the state’s General Fund.
- “Creates Jobs.
- “Provides rooms for tourists.”
The Planning Board also identified what it perceives as challenges from STRs.
- “Takes away homes from potential long-term residences.
- “Impact on neighbors, nuisance factors.
- “Increases in traffic and solid waste disposal.
- “Health-exceeding capacity of septic systems.
- “Fire-unaware of local fire danger, unattended camp fires and fire pits. Nuisance and risk of fire from fireworks.
- “Safety.
- “Being a good neighbor.”
Prior to opening the floor up to comments from the public the Planning Board showed a slide that provided some possible avenues of regulation.
- “Limit the frequency of STR bookings.
- “Limit the number of days rented within a calendar year.
- “Dictate minimum length of stay.
- “Limit the number of dwelling units to be rented on a property.
- “Exclude short-term rentals within certain districts.
- “Establish cleaning, maintenance, fire, health, and safety standards.
- “Apply caps on STRs owned by non-residents.”
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Bar Harbor Hires Officer For Mount Desert as Full Merger Discussion Continues; Mount Desert Short-Term Rental Rules Will Likely Be Revisited.
As Short-Term Rentals Are Potentially Spreading, Southwest Harbor Takes Stock.
Tremont Entertains Second Go at a Short-Term Rental Ordinance Because of a New State Law
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