South Portland, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
South Portland STRs averaged $224/night at 54.3% occupancy in April 2026, with a revenue growth score of 95.7 and key residential zoning restrictions for investors.
Quick Answer: South Portland, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Portland, ME market area is 70%. average monthly revenue in the Portland, ME market area is $6,297. average daily rate in the Portland, ME market area is $366. the top operator in the Portland, ME market area is Everrow Property with 23 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Portland, ME regional market, which includes South Portland. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to South Portland.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
South Portland, Maine sits across Casco Bay from Portland and serves as the primary gateway for air arrivals via Portland International Jetport, part of the Greater Portland region that draws approximately 3.6 million annual tourists. The city is a more affordable base for exploring Portland while also drawing shoppers to the Maine Mall and outdoor visitors to lighthouses, beaches, and the Eastern Trail.
With approximately 1,675 tracked listings, this is a smaller market than most in this batch. In April 2026, the market recorded a 54.3% occupancy rate and a $224.21 average daily rate, producing a RevPAR of $121.82. Year-over-year, occupancy held nearly flat (down 0.4 percentage points) while ADR rose 7.7% and monthly revenue declined 5.4%. The ADR growth signal is notable: the revenue growth score of 95.7 out of 100 is the highest in this batch, reflecting meaningful rate appreciation against a stable or softening national backdrop.
By listing type: 1,545 entire-place and 130 private rooms. By bedroom count, one-bedroom properties lead at 681 units, followed by two-bedroom (446), three-bedroom (306), four-bedroom (131), and five-bedroom-plus (108). Airbnb is the dominant channel: 1,008 listings are Airbnb-only, 553 appear on both platforms, and only 114 are VRBO-only. The total market score is 80.2 and the regulation score is 77.3, reflecting a moderately regulated but stable environment.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 42% |
| Feb | 50% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 57% |
| May | 62% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 79% |
| Sep | 63% |
| Oct | 65% |
| Nov | 46% |
| Dec | 49% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for South Portland are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Portland, ME market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Portland, ME market as a whole, which includes South Portland, so these counts are not South Portland-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everrow Property | 23 | 1,815 | ★ 4.80 |
| 2 | Rise & Shine Retreats | 23 | 1,334 | ★ 4.90 |
| 3 | Owner | 17 | 233 | ★ 4.80 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 14 | 1,169 | ★ 4.59 |
| 5 | East Coast Retreat | 12 | 389 | ★ 4.97 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in South Portland?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for South Portland are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 60.2% |
| vrbo | 6.8% |
| both | 33% |
Home Value Trends (South Portland)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for South Portland are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for South Portland — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
South Portland has required annual registration of all short-term rental units (stays under 30 consecutive days) since January 1, 2019 under Ordinance 22-17/18. Hosted home stays (owner present during guest stays) cost $200 per year. Non-hosted home stays (owner absent) cost $400 per year. New applications also require a one-time $100 fire inspection fee. Registrations renew annually by December 31.
A critical zoning restriction shapes the investment landscape: unhosted non-owner-occupied short-term rentals are prohibited in residential zones. The narrow exception allows single-family owners to rent their primary residence up to 14 days per year without triggering the full registration requirement. Non-hosted rentals by investors are allowed primarily in non-residential and mixed-use districts. Operators must confirm zoning eligibility through the city Web GIS viewer before applying.
Operational requirements: each unit must display its city-issued registration number in every advertisement; occupancy is capped at two guests per bedroom and six guests total per unit; operators must pass an inspection and carry insurance; and they must collect Maine’s 9% state lodging tax. There is no additional city occupancy tax beyond the 9% state rate. The ordinance has not been substantively rewritten since August 27, 2019, though city council review was anticipated in late 2025. There is no owner-occupancy requirement for non-residential zone properties, and no annual night cap beyond the 14-day carve-out for primary residence owners in residential zones.
Market Comparison
South Portland’s 54.3% April 2026 occupancy is near the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, and its $224.21 ADR is just above the national median of approximately $220, positioning this as a near-median market on both dimensions. However, the revenue growth score of 95.7 out of 100 is the highest in this batch and signals that this market is outpacing national ADR growth trends, with a 7.7% year-over-year ADR increase in April 2026.
The professional management layer in South Portland is unusually small-scale for the market’s size. The top five operators by listing count are Everrow Property (23 listings, 4.795 rating), Rise and Shine Retreats (23 listings, 4.896 rating), a listing entity labeled Owner (17 listings, 4.797 rating), Vacasa (14 listings, 4.585 rating), and East Coast Retreat (12 listings, 4.967 rating). The top five together manage roughly 89 of approximately 1,675 total market listings, or about 5.3% of supply, one of the lowest managed penetration rates in this batch. The residential zone restriction on unhosted non-owner-occupied STRs structurally limits the professional management opportunity in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Portland, Maine
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What occupancy rate do South Portland vacation rentals achieve?
How much revenue can a short-term rental in South Portland generate?
Are short-term rentals allowed in South Portland residential neighborhoods?
What does STR registration cost in South Portland?
What is the lodging tax rate for short-term rentals in South Portland?
When is peak season for South Portland vacation rentals?
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