Oregon Short-Term Rental Rules, City by City (Verified July 2026)

Program and regulatory figures verified July 24, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.

By Mike Certo, Cornerstone First Mortgage · NMLS #260555 · Updated July 24, 2026

Buying a short-term rental in the wrong Oregon jurisdiction is a six-figure mistake, and much of the coast and Central Oregon is at capacity or under a buffer rule. This is the dated, sourced status table we check before writing a single loan.

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The 2026 status table

Fees and statuses verified July 26, 2026 against city, county, and state sources; several regimes are at capacity, under buffer rules, or under active reconsideration. Bend fees and the Redmond and Rockaway ordinances were confirmed from limited or secondary sources, so confirm current rules with the jurisdiction before purchase.

Can I run an Airbnb in Portland as a non-owner investor?

Not as a pure investor, and this is the correction most out-of-state buyers need. Portland's Accessory Short-Term Rental program technically permits it: a Type A permit covers 1–2 bedrooms and up to 5 guests, a Type B permit covers 3–5 bedrooms and up to 10 guests through a conditional-use land-use review. But both permits require the host to live on-site as a primary residence at least 270 days a year. That residency rule, not the permit fee, is what blocks a pure-investor whole-home STR inside Portland city limits. Type B permits are also no longer issued in some commercial, employment, and industrial zones as of late 2024. If STR income is your thesis, the workable markets are the suburbs and Central Oregon, not Portland proper.

How much does a Portland short-term rental permit cost?

The Type A permit costs $400 and covers 1–2 bedrooms with up to 5 overnight guests under administrative review. The Type B permit costs $245 and covers 3–5 bedrooms with up to 10 guests, but it requires a conditional-use land-use hearing and, since late 2024, is no longer issued in certain non-residential zones. Both carry the 270-day owner-residency requirement, so the fee is almost beside the point for an investor who will not live in the unit. Confirm the current fee schedule with the city, since Portland adjusts its permit fees periodically.

Can I run a short-term rental in unincorporated Deschutes County or Sunriver?

Generally yes, and it is one of the more workable Central Oregon paths. The unincorporated Deschutes County permit was, on our last check, free and processed quickly: owners register with the county, receive a Certificate of Authority number that must appear on all ads, and collect and remit an 8% transient lodging tax. Sunriver sits inside the county but adds its own land-use and wastewater (septic) capacity checks, so a specific Sunriver property's feasibility depends on those before any STR use. The county was still shaping a more formal licensing program as of the latest reporting, so confirm the current status has not tightened before you buy.

The coast: mostly at capacity

The Oregon coast is the hardest region to enter new. Lincoln City is effectively closed: both residential license zones are full, at a 194 cap in the R1-5 zone and a 91 cap in the R1-RE zone, and no new license issues until an existing one is surrendered. Cannon Beach is not a ban, but new applicants are capped at 14 rental days per year, with a legacy lottery offering a small number of unlimited 5-year permits, and the whole structure is under active council reconsideration. Rockaway Beach has no hard numeric cap but is saturated, and its licenses can transfer ownership one time, which is the nuance a buyer must verify. Newport is effectively closed to new whole-home investors behind a long waitlist, and unincorporated Tillamook County is mostly at capacity with a few open pockets. Confirm any coastal parcel's status with the city or county before you assume STR use, and see the financing side at Oregon STR loans.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I run an Airbnb in Portland as a non-owner investor?

Not as a pure investor. Portland's ASTR program allows whole-home rentals on paper (Type A $400, Type B $245), but both permits require the owner to live on-site at least 270 days a year. That residency rule, not the fee, blocks a non-owner whole-home STR inside city limits. Type B permits are also no longer issued in some non-residential zones. For STR income, look to the suburbs or Central Oregon.

How much does a Portland short-term rental permit cost?

The Type A permit costs $400 (1–2 bedrooms, up to 5 guests, administrative review). The Type B permit costs $245 (3–5 bedrooms, up to 10 guests, conditional-use hearing) and is no longer issued in certain non-residential zones since late 2024. Both carry the 270-day owner-residency rule, so the fee is secondary for an investor. Confirm the current schedule with the city.

Can I run a short-term rental in unincorporated Deschutes County or Sunriver?

Generally yes. The unincorporated county permit was, on our last check, free and processed quickly; owners get a Certificate of Authority number required on all ads and collect an 8% transient lodging tax. Sunriver adds land-use and septic-capacity checks that govern feasibility. The county was still shaping a formal licensing program, so confirm the current status has not tightened before buying.

Can I get a new short-term rental license in Lincoln City?

No, in most cases. Both residential license zones are full, at a 194 cap in the R1-5 zone and a 91 cap in the R1-RE zone, and no new license issues until an existing one is surrendered. Buying a home on the assumption you can add a fresh Lincoln City STR license is a mistake; confirm a specific property already holds a transferable license before you count on the income.

Is Airbnb banned in Cannon Beach?

Not a full ban. New applicants are capped at 14 rental days per year, with a legacy lottery offering a small number of unlimited 5-year permits, and the whole structure is under active council reconsideration as of 2026. Treat Cannon Beach as effectively closed to new whole-home investor STRs, and re-verify before any purchase since the rules are in motion.

What's the short-term rental situation in Rockaway Beach, Tillamook, and Newport?

Rockaway Beach has no hard numeric cap but is saturated, and its licenses can transfer ownership one time, so a buyer relies on acquiring that transfer. Unincorporated Tillamook County is mostly at capacity with a few open pockets. Newport is effectively closed to new whole-home investors behind a long waitlist. Confirm any specific parcel's status with the city or county before assuming STR use.

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Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. Oregon's rent-cap figure, city and county STR rules, and tax figures change; verify current requirements with the city or county, your CPA, or an Oregon real estate attorney before you buy. Loans are subject to buyer and property qualification.