Occupancy Limits: Attleboro vs New Bedford
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Attleboro, MA and New Bedford, MA?
Attleboro and New Bedford have similar restriction levels.
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 →New Bedford, MA
Bristol County
New Bedford regulates short-term rentals through Chapter 9 (Comprehensive Zoning), Section 3400 of the Code of Ordinances. The local ordinance caps overnight occupancy at no more than nine guests at any one time and limits a host to renting no more than three bedrooms. Operators are also bound by the Massachusetts STR registry under MGL c.64G and the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410).
View full New Bedford rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Attleboro | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Sleeping Room Min | 70 sf first + 50 sf each addl | - |
| Lodging-House Trigger | 4+ unrelated lodgers (MGL c.140) | - |
| Local Section | - | Ch. 9 Sec. 3400 |
| Max Guests | - | 9 persons |
| Max Bedrooms Rented | - | 3 |
| Owner Occupancy | - | 9 months/year |
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.
New Bedford FAQ
How many guests can stay in a New Bedford short-term rental?
Chapter 9, Section 3400 of the New Bedford Code of Ordinances caps overnight occupancy at no more than nine people at any one time, and limits the host to renting no more than three bedrooms in the dwelling. The operator must also live in the accommodation at least nine months of the calendar year.
Do I need to file a maintenance plan with my New Bedford STR registration?
Yes. Section 3400 requires every short-term rental operator to file a property maintenance plan that includes the floor plan, the number of permitted overnight guests, parking, garbage disposal, tenant management, and a local point of contact for complaints, in addition to registering with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue under MGL c.64G.
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