Short-Term Rentals in Fall River, MA

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Fall River, Massachusetts, there are 8 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Taxes & Fees

Fall River charges every short-term rental operator a $50 annual registration filing fee to Inspectional Services, on top of the mandatory state registration with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue on Mass TaxConnect required before any listing can legally operate.

Key details: Annual filing fee: $50. Paid to: Inspectional Services. Also required: MA DOR Mass TaxConnect registration. Cite: Fall River Code § 14-723(E).

Operating an unregistered or unpaid short-term rental violates Article XXIII and triggers the general penalty under § 1-15 or noncriminal disposition under §§ 2-1021 through 2-1025; unpaid fines become a lien on the property.

This is one of the stricter rules in Fall River's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Fall River requires short-term rental operators to register annually with Inspectional Services, submitting a state DOR certificate, proof of ownership and residency, a fire-safety certificate, and a filing fee.

Key details: Filed with: Inspectional Services, annually. Required document: state DOR certificate. Also required: proof of ownership + residency. Fee set by: Chapter A110, Fee Schedule.

Operating a short-term rental without completing the annual § 14-723 registration violates § 14-722(A); Inspectional Services can deny use, with penalties under § 14-727 and Code § 1-15.

Compared to other cities, Fall River takes a harder line on short-term rental permits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Noise Rules

Fall River requires short-term rental operators to post the city's quiet-hours rule inside every rental, warning guests that disruptive noise from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays is banned.

Key details: Weekday quiet hours: 10 p.m.-7 a.m.. Sunday quiet hours: 10 p.m.-8 a.m.. Noise ordinance cited: City Code § 46-7. Posting required by: § 14-722(G)(4).

Failing to post the required house-rules sign, including the quoted noise statement, violates § 14-722(G); Inspectional Services enforces under § 14-726, with penalties under § 14-727.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Fall River requires short-term rental operators to live in the dwelling at least nine months a year, barring investor-owned units from operating as unhosted vacation rentals citywide.

Key details: Minimum residency: 9 months per calendar year. Proof required: driver's license plus utility bill. Non-owner units: ineligible under § 14-724(B). Enforced by: Inspectional Services.

Renting a non-owner-occupied dwelling as a short-term rental violates § 14-722(B) and § 14-724(B); Inspectional Services can revoke registration, and penalties run under § 14-727 and City Code § 1-15.

Compared to other cities, Fall River takes a harder line on primary-residence-only rule. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Short-term rental properties in Fall River must comply with the city's general parking regulations. The proposed STR ordinance requires compliance with local zoning, which includes off-street parking requirements under Ch. 86 of the zoning code.

Key details: Zoning Compliance: Off-street parking per Ch. 86 required. Street Parking: Standard city parking rules apply. Winter Ban: $65 fine during snow parking ban. Host Responsibility: Inform guests of parking rules.

Parking plan non-compliance may affect STR license renewal. Street parking violations: standard municipal fines. Winter ban: towing.

Repeat Violator Strikes

A Fall River short-term rental that racks up three or more violation notices within six months is barred from operating for six months from the latest violation.

Key details: Trigger: 3+ violation notices. Look-back window: 6 months. Suspension length: 6 months from 3rd violation. Also codified at: § 14-724(F).

Registering or operating a short-term rental during the six-month suspension violates §§ 14-722(J) and 14-724(F); Inspectional Services can deny or revoke registration, with penalties under § 14-727.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fall River actively enforces its repeat violator strikes requirements.

Fall River only allows short-term rentals where the owner lives on site at least nine months a year and hosts one party of guests at a time.

Key details: Residency requirement: 9 months/year minimum. Guest cap: 8 guests or 2/bedroom. Renters allowed: One party at a time. Proof required: License + utility bill or voter reg..

Renting to more than one party at once, or operating without meeting the nine-month residency requirement, is a violation of § 14-722 and can make the property ineligible for short-term rental use.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fall River actively enforces its extended home share requirements.

Occupancy Limits

Fall River short-term rentals may host no more than eight guests total, or two guests per bedroom if that limit is lower, under the city's rental ordinance.

Key details: Maximum guests: 8 total. Per-bedroom cap: 2 guests per bedroom. Rule applied: whichever number is lower. Governing section: § 14-722(D).

Exceeding the guest cap violates § 14-722(D) and counts toward the three-strikes rule in § 14-722(J); enforcement runs through Inspectional Services under §§ 14-726 and 14-727.

The Bottom Line

Fall River is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Fall River, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Fall River can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.