Short-Term Rentals in Chelsea, MA (2026)
6 verified short-term rentals rules for Chelsea, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Chelsea regulates short-term rentals through local ordinance and state registration requirements. All MA STR operators must register with the Department of Revenue and obtain a Certificate of Registration.
Chelsea Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsNoise Rules
Chelsea STRs must comply with local noise bylaws. Hosts responsible for guest behavior. Complaints may trigger license review.
Chelsea STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
STRs in Chelsea are subject to the Massachusetts state room occupancy excise tax (5.7%) plus Chelsea's local option tax. DOR registration fee is $50/year. STR platforms collect and remit taxes.
Chelsea STR Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsParking Rules
Chelsea's Short-Term Rental Application and Chapter 34 Zoning Ordinance do not impose a separate, additional off-street parking minimum on short-term rentals beyond the off-street parking already required for the underlying residential dwelling. Because Chelsea is a dense urban city with a citywide residential parking sticker program, STR guests generally cannot use on-street resident-only spaces.
STR Parking Rules in Chelsea
Some RestrictionsM.G.L. c. 40A, § 3
cidental purpose of operating a child care facility; provided, however, that such land or structures may be subject to reasonable regulations concerning the bulk and height of structures and determining yard sizes, lot area, setbacks, open space, parking and building coverage requirements. As used in this paragraph, the term ''child care facility'' shall mean a child care center or a school-age...
Occupancy Limits
Chelsea's Short-Term Rental Application caps occupancy at two persons per bedroom (children under 12 related to or the legal ward of a bedroom occupant are not counted) and limits Limited-Share Units to a maximum of 3 bedrooms offered, with one bedroom reserved for the operator. Owner-Adjacent Units must be rented as a whole to a single party.
STR Occupancy Limits in Chelsea
Heavy RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Massachusetts law requires every short-term rental operator to maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance covering each rental, under MGL c. 175 §4F (added by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018). The hosting platform's coverage may satisfy the requirement if it meets or exceeds the $1M minimum and defends the operator and any tenants/owners in the building. Chelsea enforces this state mandate through its STR registration program.
STR Insurance Requirements in Chelsea
Heavy RestrictionsMGL c. 175, § 4F
Section 4F. (a) As used in this section, the terms ''hosting platform'', ''operator'' and ''short-term rental'' shall have the same meanings as under section 1 of chapter 64G unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (b) An operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental, unless such short-term rental is offered through a hosting plat...
Looking for Suffolk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chelsea city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Suffolk County →