South Portland City Councilor Eben Rose says the city’s land-use ordinance defines an “inn” as a business renting one to 20 rooms to transient guests. And inns aren’t permitted in the city’s residential neighborhoods.

If he's correct, I see nothing ambiguous about that.

Existing zoning also allows homeowners to rent out rooms to as many as two people at a time as a “home occupation.” (Hopefully, with the condition that the homeowners occupy the rest of the premises.) That's quite different from buying a house or an apartment building and renting all of it short-term to others,

Residents are supposed to be able to get a first look at a proposed "Hosted Stays" ordinance this week.

Stay tuned.