KENNEBUNK, Maine — With Maine's tourism season now stretching year-round in some spots, the town of Kennebunk is proposing a new ordinance that would monitor short-term rentals in the area.
Since the start of services such as Airbnb and VRBO, short-term rentals and how to manage them have been a discussion for a handful of Maine towns.
"People have realized, 'Well, my house has been sitting vacant through the winter. Why don't we have winter rentals?' And then now it's become a four-season desirable area," Kortney Nedeau, a member on the town's select board, said.
The proposed ordinance would look to register each short-term rental in town, not only to see how many there are but also to ensure they are safe and up to fire code for renters and the residents neighboring them.
If passed, owners of the rentals would be required to pay a fee and give contact information to ensure they can be reached if an emergency arises when they are away.
"We just think this is a first step," Nedeau added. "We don't want to undertake something that currently isn't exactly a problem."
While some believe the ordinance would lead to a cap on short term rentals, others agree with the move.
Resident Brenda Robinson has lived in Kennebunk for years and agrees the ordinance could help lay out some ground rules to prevent any problems before they arise.
"When you have an emergency or a disturbance ... it's a big issue," Robinson said. "If the ordinance comes in, and they register, they will have to put down phone numbers."
The ordinance would also require owners to give renters a copy of a "Good Neighbor Policy," something the select board would draft to ensure visitors understand town ordinances.
The board says depending on how things go, if the ordinance is passed, would depict if a cap or other plan of action would make sense for the community.
The Select Board hopes to bring the issue to a vote in 2024.