6 rules for unincorporated Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Short-term rental operators register with the Massachusetts DOR statewide, and under MGL c.64G §14 each Hampshire County city or town can require its own licensing. Northampton and Amherst regulate rentals through local zoning and registration.
MGL c.64G §14
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 follow the same city or town noise bylaw as residents, authorized by MGL c.40 §21(22). Northampton and Amherst attach noise conditions to local registration and can pull a host's permit for repeat complaints near the Five Colleges.
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 owe the 5.7% Massachusetts state excise plus a local excise of up to 6% adopted under MGL c.64G §3A. Northampton, Amherst, and Easthampton levy the local rate; Airbnb and Vrbo collect it.
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
No Massachusetts statute sets short-term rental parking. Rules come from each city or town's STR bylaw and zoning. Northampton and Amherst can require off-street guest parking; Pioneer Valley winter parking bans limit overnight street storage.
No Massachusetts statute caps short-term rental occupancy. Limits come from each city or town's STR bylaw and, off municipal sewer, the property's Title 5 septic capacity. Northampton and Amherst tie guest counts to bedrooms.
Every short-term rental operator in Hampshire County must carry liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 under MGL c.175 §4F, unless the hosting platform provides equal coverage. The mandate is statewide, in Northampton as in Ware.
MGL c.175 §4F
An operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental
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