6 rules for unincorporated Essex County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Every short-term rental operator in Essex County must register with the state Department of Revenue, and cities and towns require local registration or licensing plus a health and safety inspection before renting.
MGL c.64G §14
A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may: (ii) require the licensing or registration of operators within the city or town; provided, however, that a city or town may: (A) accept a certificate of registration issued to an operator in accordance with section 67 of chapter 62C in lieu of requiring an operator to obtain a local license or registration under this section.
Short-term rental guests are bound by the same 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours and property-line noise standard as any resident, and repeat complaints can cost the operator their local registration.
MGL c.40 §21(22)
For controlling and abating noise from whatever source, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right to restrict or limit the use of automobile horns and the operation of motor vehicles in such a manner as to cause excessive noise.
Short-term rentals in Essex County carry the 5.7% state room occupancy excise plus a local excise of up to 6%, and professionally managed units can face an additional community impact fee of up to 3%.
MGL c.64G §3A
A city or town that accepts this section may impose a local excise upon the transfer of occupancy of a room in a bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, lodging house, short-term rental or motel located within that city or town by an operator at a rate of not more than 6 per cent of the total amount of rent for each such occupancy.
Essex County towns require short-term rentals to provide off-street parking for guests, commonly one space per bedroom, and bar guests from parking on lawns or blocking neighbors' driveways.
Essex County short-term rentals are capped at two guests per bedroom plus a small allowance, and the state sanitary code sets a minimum floor area of 150 square feet for the first occupant of any sleeping room.
Every short-term rental operator in Essex County must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance covering each rental, unless the hosting platform they use provides equal or greater coverage.
MGL c.175 §4F
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 platform that maintains equal or greater coverage.
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