You can use the following table to help determine whether your proposed rental qualifies as a short-term rental or an accessory short-term rental, and to identify the approvals required before you can begin operation:

Applicant Lives in the Home

Here

Applicant Does Not Live in the Home

SRC Chapter 30 outlines the requirements and operational standards for licenses in Salem. You will want to be familiar with the requirements for short-term rentals and accessory short-term rentals included in this chapter. In addition, accessory short-term rentals are also subject to additional standards included under SRC Chapter 700.

Short-Term Rental Standards

Definition (SRC Chapter 111)

Short-term rental means short-term commercial lodging where a single family dwelling unit, or guest room(s) within a single family dwelling unit, are rented to overnight guests on a daily or weekly basis for periods of less than 30 consecutive days. For purposes of this definition, a dwelling unit within a condominium is considered a single family dwelling unit.

Allowed Structure Types

• Single family dwelling unit
• Dwelling unit in condominium

Conditional Use Permit (SRC Chapter 240)

• If required by the zone where the rental is located, a conditional use permit must be approved prior to receiving license approval.
• The conditional use permit may establish specific additional requirements the short-term rental must comply with.

Parking Requirements (SRC Chapter 806)

No off-street parking required.

License Standards (SRC 30.1105)

• A Local representative is required who can respond to issues that may arise during the term of a rental. The representative must be:
  
  • The operator or
  • A licensed property management company with a physical office in the Salem/Keizer UGB that is open to the public
• A guest registry is required to be maintained that must be:
  
  • Available for inspection upon request
  • Include details about each booking made, such as the dates and total number of days rented, number of guests, etc.
• Transient Occupancy Tax: Payment of Transient Occupancy Tax is required.
• Liability insurance must be maintained covering use of property as a short-term rental.
• Advertisement & Listing of Rental. The city issued license number must be included on any advertisement or listing for the rental.
• Safety requirements. The rental must conform to the safety requirements of the City’s Housing Code (SRC Chapter 59).

Accessory Short-Term Rental Standards

Definition (SRC Chapter 111)

Accessory short-term rental means a type of short-term rental which is operated as an accessory use to a household living use where a resident family rents guest rooms within their dwelling unit, or a guest house if applicable, when they are present as hosts, or rents their entire dwelling unit, including a guest house if applicable, during periods of time when they are away, to overnight guests on a daily or weekly basis for periods of less than 30 consecutive days.

Special Use Standards (SRC 700.006)

• Residency requirement. Applicant must live in dwelling unit a minimum of 270 days during the calendar year.
• Allowed structure types:
  
  • Single family dwelling unit
  • Two-family dwelling unit
  • Dwelling unit in condominium
  • Guest house
• Guest rooms rented
  
  • Hosted rental
    
    • Maximum three guest rooms within home/guest house
    • The applicant is present as host during the term of the rental
  • Non-hosted rental
    
    • Entire home/guest house
    • The applicant is not present during the term of the rental
• Number of guests (children under 12 years of age do not count towards the maximum number of guests)
  
  • Hosted rental
    
    • Maximum two guests per guest room (Note: The maximum number of people allowed in the rental must also conform to building code limits)The applicant is present as host during the term of the rental
    • The applicant is present as host during the term of the rental
  • Non-hosted rental
    
    • Maximum two guests per guest room with no more than 10 guests total (Note: The maximum number of people allowed in the rental must also conform to building code limits)
    • The applicant is not present during the term of the rental
• Booking limits
  
  • Hosted rental
    
    • No limit on number of nights that can be booked
    • Multiple bookings by more than one group of guests at any given time are allowed
    • The applicant is present as host during the term of the rental
  • Non-hosted rental
    
    • Maximum 95 days within calendar year can be booked
    • Multiple bookings by more than one group of guests at any given time are not allowed
    • The applicant is not present during the term of the rental
• Uses not allowed
  
  • Not allowed in conjunction with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or leasing of rooms.
  • Can only be used for lodging. Activities other than lodging (such as events, gatherings, luncheons, banquets, parties, weddings, meetings, or similar activities) are not allowed.

Parking Requirements (SRC Chapter 806)

No off-street parking required.

License Standards (SRC 30.1005)

• Owner authorization required if the applicant for the license is a tenant of the dwelling unit to be operated as an accessory short-term rental.
• A Local representative is required who can respond to issues that may arise during the term of a rental. The representative must be:
  
  • The operator; or
  • A licensed property management company with a physical office in the Salem/Keizer UGB that is open to the public.
• A guest registry is required to be maintained that must be:
  
  • Available for inspection upon request
  • Include details about each booking made, such as the dates and total number of days rented, number of guests, etc.
• Transient Occupancy Tax: Payment of Transient Occupancy Tax is required.
• Liability insurance must be maintained covering use of property as an accessory short-term rental.
• Advertisement and Listing of Rental. The city issued license number must be included on any advertisement or listing for the rental.
• Safety requirements. The rental must conform to the safety requirements of the City’s Housing Code (SRC Chapter 59).

To apply, please send a signed application to planning@cityofsalem.net. Staff will set up your permit folder and send you information on how to upload the rest of your application materials and pay the fee online.

Short-Term Rental License

• Completed license application form
• Completed transient occupancy tax (TOT) operator registration form
• Copy of approved conditional use permit (if applicable)
• Site plan (SRC 30.050(a)(7)(F))
• Floor plan of dwelling unit (SRC 30.050(a)(7)(H))
• Completed safety certification
• Proof of insurance
• Payment of the license fee

Accessory Short-Term Rental License

• Completed license application form
• Completed transient occupancy tax (TOT) operator registration form
• Floor plan of dwelling unit/guest house (SRC 30.050(a)(2)(I))
• Completed safety certification
• Written authorization from property owner (if applicant is a tenant of the dwelling unit rather than the owner)
• Valid Driver's License or State Issued Identification card shall be provided to show proof that applicant resides in the dwelling unit rented and one of the following documents:
  
  • Motor vehicle registration
  • Voters registration
  • Tax documents showing the dwelling unit as the applicant's primary residence
  • Utility bill
  • Written Lease agreement
• Proof of insurance
• Payment of the license fee

Each application will be reviewed to determine if it meets the license requirements and to verify the application information.

Approval: If the license is approved, you will be notified and the actual license will be issued.

Denial: If the license is denied, you will be notified with the reason(s) for the denial. You can appeal the decision as outlined in SRC Chapter 20J.

To apply, please send a signed application to planning@cityofsalem.net. Staff will set up your permit folder and send you information on how to upload the rest of your application materials and pay the fee online.

Short-Term Rental License Renewal

• Completed license application form
• Copy of license proposed to be renewed
• Copy of guest registry (SRC 30.1105(c)) for the prior year
• Proof of insurance
• The following, if changes have been made since the prior license approval:
• Updated transient occupancy tax (TOT) operator registration form (if changes have been made requiring an update to the information provided on your current TOT operator registration form)
• Updated site plan (SRC 30.050(a)(7)(F)) (if changes have been made to the location or number of parking spaces provided for the rental)
• Updated floor plan of dwelling unit (SRC 30.050(a)(7)(H)) (if the guestrooms rooms to be rented will be changing from the prior license approval)
• Updated safety certification form (if changes have been made to the rental requiring an update to the information provided on your current safety certification form)
• Payment of the license renewal fee

Accessory Short-Term Rental License Renewal

• Completed license application form
• Copy of license proposed to be renewed
• Copy of guest registry (SRC 30.1005(d)) for the prior year
• Proof of insurance

The following, if changes have been made since the prior license approval:

• Updated transient occupancy tax (TOT) operator registration form (if changes have been made requiring an update to the information provided on your current TOT operator registration form)
• Updated safety certification form (if changes have been made to the rental requiring an update to the information provided on your current safety certification form)

Each application will be reviewed to determine if it meets the license requirements and to verify the application information.

Approval: If the license renewal is approved, you will be notified and a renewed license will be issued.

Denial: If the license renewal is denied, you will be notified with the reason(s) for denial. You can appeal the decision as outlined in SRC Chapter 20J.