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👁🗨 Sesemi STR Hot Sheet | 📲 STR Mortgages
Dear Sesemi STReet,
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📌 Best Places to invest in Oregon Coast Short Term Vacation Rentals (STRs) & AirBNBs in 2026: STR Permits, Licenses, Laws, Rules and Regulations you need to know!
Yes - you can still purchase, own and operate a STR (short term vacation rental) in 2026 on the Oregon Coast! How and Where? In nearly every Oregon Coast city or county through the planning department (if you know where to look!)
This guide covers short term rental license requirements and how to apply for a new STR License or Permit on the Oregon Coast in 2026. Operating a short term rental (STR) on the Oregon Coast for durations of less than 30 days requires a permit or license from the local jurisdiction. The following cities, counties and towns permit short term rentals.
A bit about us: My name is Anthony AJ Wong and I’m a licensed Oregon & California Real Estate and NMLS Mortgage Broker. I founded Sesemi | STR Brokers powered by Fathom Realty and since 2023 have almost exclusively supported investors identify, assess and acquire 50+ STRs for over $35M in Sales with 15 STRs Sold in 2025. I own and operate a local STR and an international AIRBNB in Mexico. If you’re considering investing on the majestic Oregon Coast we have the passion and resources to help streamline your search.
Since 2019 I have successfully closed STR transactions in: Brookings, Gold Beach, Port Orford, Langlois, Bandon, Coos Bay, Lakeside, Florence, Yachats, Waldport, Newport, Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, Rockaway Beach, Arch Cape, Manzanita, Bay City and Seaside. Furthermore I have supported multi-family and commercial investors in: Astoria, Warrenton, Newport, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, Albany & Klamath Falls.
The harsh truth is that short term rental inventory and options are increasingly limited due to tightening restrictions and increasing investor demand. We host a few tools to help clients stay one-step ahead at our weekly HOT STR newsletter www.OregonSTRs.com and our HOT Sheet at www.sesemisheet.com OR schedule a FREE one-on-one 15 minute discovery Call!
The rules regarding operating short term rentals on the Oregon Coast are constantly evolving so be sure to check in directly with myself or the local planning departments for the most recent information. I hope you find these insights helpful to buying your dream coastal property!
Short Term Vacation Rental (STR) Regulations from South to North:
Brookings Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Low restrictions. Typically West of the 101 and with specific zoning codes. Permits do not transfer. 30-45 days for processing. We have helped one client in Brookings acquire a top performing STR
Gold Beach Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive. Permits do not transfer. Has to be near the port, commercially zoned or outside of city limits.
Port Orford Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive. Within city limits the number of STRs is capped. Permits do not transfer. Must have commercial zoning or be located outside of city limits.
Bandon Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive. Within city limits licensing is based in a specific area (west side of town near Beach Loop) and rentals must meet density requirements of active neighboring rentals unless commercially zoned or has grandfathered permit operating from the 2000’s or earlier. 1-2 months for processing. Outside of city limits is possible and can take 2-3 months for permit processing.
Coos Bay / North Bend Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Medium restrictions within city limits including proximity to actively operating STRs. Outside of city limits has a few quirks that could prevent a property from qualifying such as insufficient septic capacity and public water sources.
Lakeside Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive within city limits and variables that can impact qualification in the county such as septic captaincy and origin of water sources.
Florence Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Low restrictions (as of publication). Florence has regulating STRs on their agenda and expectation are that there will be more formal rules by the end of 2026 or sooner…outside of city limits in Lane County is effectively open to operating with no anticipated changes.
Yachats Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive as there is a CAP on the Total number of STRs. The waitlist has been reduced in recent years to less than ten persons* There
Waldport Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Low restrictions. Within city limits the process for owning and operating a short term rental are strait forward and can take as little as 30 days. You will want to avoid any HOA communities (including Bayshore for now*) and there are some exceptions to pockets just outside city limits that fall under their jurisdiction. County area properties are not eligible as they are at a CAP for Lincoln County.
Newport Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive. In general within the city limits of Newport is not investable due to a usual extensive waitlist. There are two exception to this rule: commercially zoned properties or those that are operating before the most recent rules were instituted and are ‘grandfathered’ in. In the past three years there have only been 2-3 listings that met these conditions.
Depoe Bay Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive with the exceptions of specifically zoned communities, condos and townhomes.
Lincoln City Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive with the exception of Olivia Beach, Commercially Zoned properties and a handful of other communities and zoning code that permits STR usages outright.
The following four areas are administered by Tillamook County. The majority of them are at STR capacity but several areas have a few permits available. In many regions actively licensed properties can transfer! Exceptions are noted. For up to date waitlists visit the Tillamook County STR website here:
Neskowin Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations
Pacific City Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: There is a small region that has unlimited STR usages.
Netarts Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations
Oceanside Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations
Bay City Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: No active STRs within 200 feet of an existing STR.
Rockaway Beach Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Only actively licensed STRs can transfer one time to a new owner/operator. There is some discussion of restricting this transferability*
Manzanita Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: The majority of STR will be subject to an extensive waitlist. Specific zoning codes mostly away from the beach can be eligible not subject to waitlist.
Arch Cape Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Limited to one occupancy per seven days.
Cannon Beach Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Limited to one occupancy per fourteen days.
Seaside Oregon STR/AirBNB Rules & Regulations: Highly restrictive. STR are limited to a western region and subject o density and parking requirements. Typically no more than 30% of immediate neighbors can be active shortly term rentals and one parking space per bedroom on the property is required. Unlicensed properties have a mandatory wait period for issuance of 90+ days, actively operating rentals are typically re-issued (if eligible) in 30 days.
Warrenton/Gearhart - There are limited areas where STRs can operate, primarily a few luxury HOA communities and condos.
Astoria- Highly restrictive and generally not allowed unless commercially zoned.
OUR TOP CITIES TO INVEST IN AN OREGON STR IN 2026
Bandon aka Disneyland for adults. The home of the premier Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and home of several of the top public golf courses on earth. Luxury Rentals here can be highly productive with some of the highest grossing STRs in the state located nearby.
Seaside is Portland’s backyard beach. It’s a quick drive and when you can land a prime rental here, the occupancies and rental rates can be impressive and above average.
Lincoln City is the heart of the travel coast. Increasingly challenging to land an STR the high barrier to entry has lead to improving performance.
Arch Cape / Manzanita is a luxury destination trending towards Cannon Beach valuations. The barriers to entry are high and there are limitations on usages but long term investors the region is worth consideration.
Rockaway Beach is host to some of the top revenue generating oceanfront STRs on the entire Oregon Coast.
Brookings is the first city over the California border and under the radar in the terms of rental saturation. We sold one prime STR here that is amongst the top performing.
Bend & Mt Hood are non-coastal regions but can offer strong production when you need find a licensable rental.
👁🗨 Our exclusive STR HOT SHEET is updated daily and features 100+ active and off market vacation rental properties for sale. Search 24/7/365 at www.sesemisheet.com
🎯 Why use an STR-focused broker
We specialize in licensed, zoned STRs, 1031X timing, and turn-key luxury sales so investors save time and capital.
$35M+ in STR sales closed along the Oregon Coast & beyond; we underwrite revenue, compliance, and operations—not just comps.
Our HOT Sheet tracks 99% of eligible STRs so you move smart.
🪄 HOT Sheet: 9 of 10 of our STR sales are first found on our exclusive and invite-only cheat sheet: Request access and visit sesemisheet.com
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of Sesemi STReet your premier information source for vacation Rental and investment property insight throughout Oregon & California.
Anthony AJ Wong
Licensed Oregon Real Estate Broker | NMLS Mortgage Broker
Sesemi | STR Brokers powered by Fathom Realty Oregon + Loan Factory
📞 541-800-0455
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License #201231202 | FL NMLS ID: 2297941
P.S. As a licensed NMLS mortgage broker with Loan Factory - utilize our industry leading pricing tool for mortgage options anywhere in the country. Our loan system is designed for busy professionals that demand transparency and efficiency. Check in with my go-to LO Joseph Chiofalo for Pre-Approvals or Rate Quotes.
