PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 15, 2024
No one in York questions the town’s longstanding tradition of welcoming summer visitors to stay in rented seaside homes. But whether those properties should be licensed and inspected is being debated as residents prepare to vote Saturday on new regulations. The town is considering an ordinance that would regulate short-term rentals for the first time. Opponents say York’s proposal would amount to government overreach in a town that has had very few documented problems. But supporters say the short-term rental properties have become increasingly disruptive to residential neighborhoods and should be licensed like any other business. “We are a tourist community, and we thrive on that. We just need a few rules in place so everyone can benefit,” said Lee-Anne Leverone, of York Beach.