Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Bar Harbor?

Yes. Bar Harbor requires Short-Term Rental Registration (VR-1 or VR-2), and the fee is $275. Bar Harbor requires every short-term rental (under 30 days) to hold an annual town registration that expires May 31, with a $275 non-refundable application fee and a triennial life-safety inspection. Owner-occupied rentals (VR-1, 2-night minimum) are allowed in most districts, but whole-home rentals that are not the owner's primary residence (VR-2, 4-night minimum) are capped town-wide at 9% of dwelling units, are non-transferable, and are prohibited outright in many residential and shoreland districts; because registrations remain above the cap, new VR-2s are available only through a waitlist. Maine's 9% state lodging tax applies on top.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Bar Harbor?

The Short-Term Rental Registration (VR-1 or VR-2) fee in Bar Harbor is $275, renewed annual. Both the VR-1 and VR-2 application forms for 2026 state a $275.00 non-refundable fee, payable when the application is filed. The same fee applies to new applications, renewals, and VR-2 waitlist applications.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Bar Harbor, ME (2026)

Bar Harbor requires Short-Term Rental Registration (VR-1 or VR-2) — the fee is $275, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Rental Registration (VR-1 or VR-2)
Permit fee	$275
Renewal	Annual

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs are governed by Land Use Ordinance sec. 125-69Y plus Municipal Code Chapter 174. VR-1 (owner's primary residence, defined as residing there more than 183 days/year) is allowed in roughly 34 districts - essentially everywhere dwellings are allowed - and prohibited only in a handful of districts such as Industrial, Stream Protection, Resource Protection, Scientific Research, Shoreland Maritime Activities, and Marine Research. VR-2 (entire dwelling that is not the owner's primary residence) is allowed only in about 18 village/commercial-oriented districts (e.g., Bar Harbor Gateway, Village Historic, Downtown Village I/II, Town Hill Business) subject to the town-wide 9% cap, and is prohibited in the remaining districts (e.g., Indian Point Residential, Shoreland Limited Residential, Otter Creek), where only VR-2s registered before December 2, 2021 may continue as legally non-conforming uses with uninterrupted annual renewal. VR-2 registrations town-wide are capped at 9% of total dwelling units; registrations are non-transferable, and because existing registrations exceed the cap, new VR-2s are issued only from a waitlist as attrition brings the count down.
2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Registration (VR-1 or VR-2)
Submit the Short-Term Rental Registration (VR-1 or VR-2) application to Bar Harbor and pay the $275 fee. Both the VR-1 and VR-2 application forms for 2026 state a $275.00 non-refundable fee, payable when the application is filed. The same fee applies to new applications, renewals, and VR-2 waitlist applications.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Bar Harbor. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Bar Harbor changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

Watch Bar Harbor for changes →

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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Bar Harbor before applying.

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