Short-Term Rentals in Boston, MA (2026)

Boston ISD Short-Term Rentals — Unit Types and Fees

Short-term rentals in Boston need to register with the City of Boston. [...] There are three types of short-term rental units that may be offered up to 365 days per year: Home share unit; Limited share unit; Owner - adjacent unit. [...] LIMITED SHARE UNITS — Limited Share Units have a private bedroom in an owner-operator's primary residence. One bedroom must be reserved for the operators use. T...

Boston ISD Short-Term Rentals — Excessive Noise Compliance Requirement

The unit must not be the subject of three or more violations — within a six-month period, starting January 1, 2019 — of any City ordinance or state law relating to: the Short-term Rental ordinance itself; excessive noise; improper disposal of trash, or disorderly conduct or other similar conduct (this includes violations of the state Sanitary, Building and Fire Code). There also can't be any ou...

Boston Code of Ordinances § 9-14.7

9-14.7 Room Occupancy Excise. A residential unit subject to the provisions of this Section that is also subject to the Room Occupancy Excise under M.G.L Chapter 64G or any other excise or surcharge pertaining to short-term rentals or transient occupancy shall comply with the provisions of said statutes. Notwithstanding any provision or requirement to the contrary, an operator may use a Bookin...

MGL c.64G § 14 — Regulation of operators by cities or towns

Section 14. A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may regulate operators registered pursuant to section 67 of chapter 62C and impose penalties for the violation of such an ordinance or by-law. A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may: (i) regulate the existence or location of operators under this section within the city or town, including regulating the class of operators and number of loc...

Boston Code of Ordinances §§ 9-14.2, 9-14.5(B)

LIMITED SHARE UNIT. A residential unit that is the operator's primary residence, a portion of which is offered as a short-term rental while the operator is present. Occupancy shall be limited to three bedrooms or six guests in a LIMITED SHARE UNIT, whichever is less. One bedroom must be reserved for the operator. ... (B) Short-term rental of a limited share unit. An operator may offer his or he...

Boston ISD Short-Term Rentals — Eligibility Criteria: Owner-Occupied / Primary Residence

Boston's Short-Term Rental (STR) program allows the renting of residential units for less than twenty-eight (28) days for a fee. Residential units offered as short term rentals are only allowed in owner-occupied condominiums, single-family, two-family, and three-family buildings. For two-family and three-family buildings, the owner-occupant must own all the units. [...] Primary residence of Own...

Boston Code of Ordinances §§ 9-14.2, 9-14.5(C)-(D)

OWNER-ADJACENT UNIT. A residential unit offered as a short-term rental that is not the owner's primary residence but that is located within the same dwelling as the primary residence of, and is owned by, said owner; provided that, OWNER-ADJACENT UNITS used as short-term rentals shall only be allowed in two-family or three-family dwellings where all units are owned by the same unique owner-occup...

Boston ISD Short-Term Rentals — Three-Violation / Problem Property Eligibility Rule

Be in compliance with related Housing laws and codes — The unit must not be the subject of three or more violations — within a six-month period, starting January 1, 2019 — of any City ordinance or state law relating to: the Short-term Rental ordinance itself; excessive noise; improper disposal of trash, or disorderly conduct or other similar conduct (this includes violations of the state Sanita...

Boston Code of Ordinances § 9-14.10(B)

(B) Enforcement by booking agent. (1) The Commissioner shall enter into agreements with booking agents for assistance in enforcing the provisions of this Section, including, but not limited to, an agreement whereby the booking agent agrees to remove a listing from its platform for exceeding the maximum number of days a residential unit may be offered as a short-term rental, whereby the booking ...