Owners of short-term rentals in Kennebunkport have a final chance to register their properties with the town after selectmen extended the Dec. 31 deadline to Feb. 28. More than 400 applications have been received, but about two dozen people who advertise short-term rentals have not applied, selectmen learned Jan. 27. Dan King photo

KENNEBUNKPORT – Owners of short-term rentals who did not register their properties with the town prior to the Dec. 31 deadline now have until Feb. 28 to file, but as is the case with other after-the-fact municipal permits, they will be required to pay double the fee.

Selectmen agreed to offer the late registration period at a meeting on Jan. 27.

Registrations for the latecomers will be $650 for properties up to three bedrooms, and $1,150 for properties with four or more bedrooms. From early November to Dec. 31, the fee was $325 for up to three bedrooms, and $575 for four-bedroom rental properties.

Staffers on the planning and codes office who have been handling the short-term rental registration program estimated there were between 20-25 properties advertised on short-term rental sites that have not been registered.

In all, in the first season of the ordinance, 410 applications were submitted, and most had been approved by the meeting date. There were 355 unique license holders, Planner Eli Rubin told the board, with eight of those obtaining three licenses each. Another 20 applicants obtained two licenses each. There were 159 units managed by someone other than the property owner. The program has generated $160,000.

Of the 410 applications, 106 (27 percent) were granted to Kennebunkport residents.

Kennebunkport voters approved the short-term rental ordinance that applies to properties rented for periods of 30 days or less, 627-565 in June. The intent, spelled out in the ordinance preamble, “is to ensure that residential neighborhoods are not unduly impacted by the operation of short-term rentals within the town.”

Selectmen heard from several property owners on Jan. 27, including Eric Levin, who said he originally purchased a property in town for short-term rentals, and then during the pandemic, the family moved here. He said he did not realize the deadline until he received mail on Dec. 30. The family had rented the property during part of the summer of 2021 and said he is still hoping to be able to register the property for rentals in 2022.

Kate Greenberg told the board in the online meeting that her family traces its roots to the area to 1653. She bought a property at Goose Rocks Beach several years ago.

“We’ve rented it to keep it in the family,” she said, adding she did not receive any email or letter about the new short-term rental ordinance.

“I’m happy to pay double,” said Greenberg from her home in California. She said she believed the board ought to give a grace period.

Selectmen board chair Sheila Matthews-Bull and selectman Allen Daggett said they did not have a problem extending the deadline.

“One of our concerns has been absentee owners coming in, buying property and putting it on the short-term rental market,” said selectman Mike Weston. He said many people in town estimated there were 100 to 150 people renting properties short-term, but the board knew there were a lot more. “I have a hard time extending,” said Weston. “I’m not heartless, but that was the intent. We’ve sort of thumbed our noses at the people who met the requirements and registered by Dec. 31.”

Weston later amended his motion to extend the registration to Feb. 28.

Selectman Patrick Briggs said the extension should be a one-time accommodation only.

“This was well advertised,” said Selectman Ed Hutchins, adding property owners ought to have some due diligence. “I’m fine with giving a little amnesty for people who meet the requirements.”

Applicants will have to meet the eligibility criteria, which includes at least 14 days of rental history in 2019, 2020 or 2021.

Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to extend the deadline to Feb. 28, with the fee doubled.

They discussed enforcement for violations, including illegal operations, trash, noise, parking, occupancy and other ordinance infractions.

The codes and planning office will review each complaint. Penalties could ensue, and include license revocation, denial of a license in the future, or fines from $100 to $5,000, recovered through the state courts.