6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Norfolk County does not have a county STR registration program. Massachusetts state law (MGL c. 64G) requires all STR operators statewide to register with the MA Department of Revenue. Individual cities and towns may add local registration requirements.
Norfolk County has no county-level STR noise rules. STR guests are subject to the same noise ordinances as residents in whichever municipality the rental is located.
Massachusetts imposes a 5.7% state room occupancy excise on all STRs (MGL c. 64G). Norfolk County municipalities may add a local option excise up to 6%. Many platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) collect and remit these taxes automatically.
Norfolk County has no county-level STR parking rules. Parking at short-term rentals is governed by the host municipality's general parking ordinances and any specific STR conditions imposed locally.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40A, § 3 (Zoning Act — Statewide Limits on Local Zoning, Including Treatment of Residential Uses) (Massachusetts General Laws; applies to all cities/towns within the county)
Section 3. No zoning ordinance or by-law shall regulate or restrict the use of materials, or methods of construction of structures regulated by the state building code, nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or ...
Norfolk County has no STR occupancy rule. MA State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410.400 sets minimum floor area per occupant. Quincy and Brookline impose 2-per-bedroom-plus-2 caps on registered STRs. Weymouth has no STR cap.
Massachusetts requires $1M liability insurance for all short-term rentals statewide under MGL c. 64G §68. Hosts in Norfolk County must carry this coverage regardless of town.
MGL c. 64G, Section 14 - Regulation of operators by cities or towns (Short-Term Rentals)
Section 14. A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may regulate operators registered pursuant to section 67 of chapter 62C and impose penalties for the violation of such an ordinance or by-law. A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may: (i) regulate the existence or location of operators under this section within the city or town, including regulating the class of operators and number of loc...
3 cities in Norfolk County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Norfolk County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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