CAMDEN, Maine — In one of Maine’s most beloved vacation destinations, a battle is unfolding over how to govern the short-term rentals that many tourists flock to during the summer.
A proposal from the Camden Select Board seeks to enact tighter safety and zoning regulations on the rentals like Airbnbs in town. Property owners would also have to apply for a license—something currently required but rarely enforced, according to town officials. Voters will consider the proposal in June.
For supporters, the new rules would offer a better understanding of how many rentals there are in Camden, something that's not fully known, and how they operate. “It will end up attempting to be more clear and more accurate with what’s out there so that the proper home inspections can be done,” Christopher Nolan, who serves on the Select Board, said Tuesday.
Fellow Select Board member Stephanie French added, "What we’re trying to do and what we’ve put through to the voters is a compliable start.”
The proposal, however, has drawn fierce criticism from some short-term rental owners who see it as a thinly veiled effort to drive Airbnbs and Vrbos out of Camden.
“It seems to be focusing on regulations for the sake of regulations and perhaps to disincentivize homeowners from renting their homes,” Alex Cohen, a short-term rental owner and real estate agent, said Tuesday. “The intentions are suspect ... I would argue, disingenuous.”
For other opponents, the idea of subjecting rentals to safety standards more in line with hotels than residential properties is an overreach of government, as rentals can be someone's actual home.
“[The town is] acting like they’re a homeowners association, dictating what you have to do,” said Rolanda Klapatch, a Camden native and short-term rental owner.
Despite these concerns, Nolan maintains that the proposal is not part of a larger scheme to upend short-term rentals.
“We don’t want to discourage business. We want to make sure that people have a safe place to be,” Nolan said.
Camden residents will vote on the proposed regulations at Town Meeting June 11.