Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 15 § 15-4
Ineligible residential units
Operative Text
(a) The following residential units are not eligible to be offered as short-term rentals: (1) Residential units where the operator or owner does not live in either the unit, the building, or within the property and it is not the operator's primary residence, unless it qualifies under the exception for existing non-owner occupied unit, provided in section 15-6 d., below. (2) Residential units that are located within properties designated as a "problem property" pursuant to section 2-705 (a) (4) of this Code. (3) Residential units that are the subject of three or more findings of violations of this section within a six month period, or three or more violations of any municipal ordinance or state law or code relating to excessive noise, improper disposal of trash, disorderly conduct, or other similar conduct within a six month period. Units found ineligible pursuant to this subsection shall remain ineligible for a six month period immediately following the third violation. (4) Residential units located within a property subject to any outstanding building, sanitary, zoning, or fire code violations, orders of abatement, stop work orders, unpaid taxes, water/sewer or tax liens, or other existing judgments or penalties imposed by the city so long as the matter remains unresolved. If a violation or other order is issued after the residential unit has been registered, the residential unit's registration shall be suspended until the violation has been cured or otherwise resolved. (5) Affordable accessory dwelling units and principal dwelling units that have an affordable accessory dwelling unit established pursuant to the Salem Zoning Ordinance Section 3.2.8 Affordable Accessory Dwelling units. (6) Effective April 12, 2024, more than two units in any one building.
Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 15 § 15-4 identifies six categories of residential units that cannot legally operate as short-term rentals. These include units where the operator does not live on the property as a primary residence (with a narrow exception), units tied to problem properties or outstanding code violations, units that have accumulated three or more qualifying violations within a six-month window, affordable accessory dwelling units and their associated principal units, and—as of April 12, 2024—any building where more than two units would be offered as short-term rentals. A unit that becomes ineligible due to repeated violations remains ineligible for six months following the third violation, and a unit already registered loses that registration if a disqualifying code violation arises and goes unresolved.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and property owners subject to Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 15 § 15-4 generally confirm owner-occupancy and primary-residence status before listing any unit as a short-term rental, and they verify that the property carries no unresolved building, sanitary, zoning, fire, tax, or lien issues. Compliant operators also monitor their violation history, since three or more qualifying violations within any six-month period triggers a mandatory six-month ineligibility period. Buildings with more than two units used as short-term rentals became non-compliant as of April 12, 2024, so operators with larger multi-unit properties typically audit their portfolios against this cap.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you believe a short-term rental in your building or neighborhood is operating in violation of Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 15 § 15-4—for example, because the owner does not live on the property, the building has unresolved code violations, or more than two units in the building are being rented short-term—you may have grounds to raise that concern with the City of Salem's relevant enforcement or licensing office. Tenants in buildings where a short-term rental registration has been improperly granted can inquire about the complaint or review process through the city, and a local tenant-rights organization can help explain what documentation or steps are generally available. Understanding the specific ineligibility categories in § 15-4 can also be relevant if a violation of this provision affects your own housing conditions or tenancy.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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