Occupancy Limits: Attleboro vs Fall River
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Attleboro, MA and Fall River, MA?
Attleboro has fewer restrictions than Fall River.
Attleboro, MA
Bristol County
Attleboro's Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 17 of the City Code) does not set a numeric per-bedroom occupancy cap specifically for short-term rentals. STR operators in Attleboro are bound by the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) sleeping-room standards, and the maximum occupancy declared on the operator's MA Department of Revenue STR registration filed under MGL c.64G.
View full Attleboro rules →Fall River, MA
Bristol County
Fall River adopted Ordinance No. 2025-07 (codified in Chapter 86 of the City Code via eCode360) to regulate short-term rentals. The local rule caps each STR at a maximum of eight (8) guests, or two (2) guests per bedroom, whichever is less, and prohibits renting separate bedrooms to different parties. State sleeping-room minimums under 105 CMR 410 also apply.
View full Fall River rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Attleboro | Fall River |
|---|---|---|
| Local STR Code | None specific to occupancy | - |
| State Registry | MGL c.64G + c.62C §67 | MGL c.64G + c.62C §67 |
| Sanitary Code | 105 CMR 410 | 105 CMR 410 |
| Sleeping Room Min | 70 sf first + 50 sf each addl | - |
| Lodging-House Trigger | 4+ unrelated lodgers (MGL c.140) | - |
| Local STR Ord. | - | No. 2025-07 (Ch. 86) |
| Max Guests | - | 8 total |
| Per-Bedroom | - | 2 guests/bedroom |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Attleboro FAQ
How many guests can stay in an Attleboro short-term rental?
Attleboro has not adopted a per-bedroom occupancy formula in its zoning ordinance. The enforceable cap is the maximum occupancy you declare on your Massachusetts DOR Short-Term Rental Registry application under MGL c.64G, subject to the 105 CMR 410 sanitary-code minimums of 70 square feet for one sleeper plus 50 square feet for each additional sleeper in any room used for sleeping.
Do I need a lodging-house license in Attleboro?
If you rent four or more rooms to unrelated lodgers, MGL c.140, §§22-32 treats the property as a lodging house and a separate City of Attleboro lodging-house license is required from the licensing authority, in addition to the state STR registration under MGL c.64G.
Fall River FAQ
How many guests can stay in a Fall River short-term rental?
Fall River Ordinance No. 2025-07 caps every STR at a maximum of eight guests, with a formula of two guests per bedroom, and the unit must be rented to one party at a time. The per-bedroom formula is the controlling number when it is less than eight, and 105 CMR 410 sleeping-room minimums (70 sf for one sleeper plus 50 sf each additional) still apply on top.
Can I rent individual bedrooms to different guests in Fall River?
No. Ordinance No. 2025-07 requires that a Short-Term Rental be rented to one party of renters at a time. Renting separate bedrooms to different parties is prohibited under the local STR rule, regardless of state registration status.
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