ROCKLAND —  As of October 30, 2016 all short term rentals will need to receive a permit to continue operating, according to a news release. However, because of delays on the City’s part, extensions may be granted.

On April 11, 2016, the Rockland City Council adopted regulations that authorize and regulate the use of residential properties for Short Term Rental. A Short Term Rental is defined in Rockland Ordinance Section 19-302 as “The use of all or part of a legally-existing dwelling unit for short-term rental to a person or family unrelated to the owner or lessee of the unit, for consideration, for periods of less than one month,” according to the release.

While this ordinance was adopted last spring, the City Council included transitional provisions so that reservations for the 2016 season could be honored and would not be impacted by this new ordinance.

Short term rental permits will be issued by the Rockland Code Office. Depending on a number of factors permits will either be issued after review by the Code Office or after undergoing Planning Board Review.

The Code Office will provide assistance to any property owner through the Planning Board Review process.

The City is completing a database of short term rentals currently operating in Rockland.

“We will endeavor to send letters to all the property owners operating short term rentals, which we are aware of, by the end of October. We are asking that these property owners either make an appointment with the Code Office or call if they are out of state, so that we can discuss these new regulations and determine how they should proceed. If you do not receive a letter and you are renting to guests for less than a month, you must contact the Code Office in order to continue,” Rockland Code Enforcement Officer John Root said in the release.

Staff and the City Council worked very hard to legitimize and develop some reasonable regulation for Short Term Rentals. All concerns from both opponents and supporters of the regulations were considered.

The first year will be the most difficult to administer, but afterwards, it will simply be a matter of tracking, according to the release.

Residents with questions about short term rental or the process are encouraged to call the Code Office at (207) 594-0308 or www.rocklandcode@rocklandmaine.gov.