City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Salem, OR
How Salem regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Two-tier STR-specific license regime (short-term rental + accessory short-term rental) under SRC Ch. 30 / Ch. 700
- Non-accessory whole-home STR requires a Conditional Use Permit in low-density residential zones (RA, RS, RD) but is a permitted use in higher-density residential (RM-I, RM-II, RH) and non-residential zones (CN, CO, FMU, PM, IG)
- Accessory (owner-occupied) type carries a 270-day resident-occupancy requirement and a 95-day cap on non-hosted whole-unit rental
- One booking at a time; liability insurance, guest registry, local contact, and transient occupancy tax registration required
- Whole-home absentee STR remains obtainable, so no supply device forecloses it
Based on: Salem Revised Code Ch. 30 (Licenses) + Ch. 700 (Special Use Provisions); adopting ordinance Bill No. 5-17 (2017)
Summary of the rule
Non-accessory (full) short-term rentals require conditional use permits in lower-density residential zones (RA, RS, RD), though they are permitted uses in higher-density residential and non-residential zones. STRs and accessory STRs are allowed in RA, RS, RD, RM-I, RM-II, RH, CN, CO, FMU, PM, and IG zones.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Salem · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.