6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Short-term rental operators register with the Massachusetts DOR statewide, and under MGL c.64G §14 each Plymouth County town can require its own licensing. Plymouth, Marshfield, and Scituate run local STR registration programs.
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 town noise bylaw as residents, authorized by MGL c.40 §21(22). Towns running STR programs, like Plymouth and Scituate, attach noise conditions and can pull a host's local registration for repeat complaints.
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. Plymouth, Marshfield, and Wareham levy the full 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 town's STR bylaw and zoning. Plymouth and Scituate require off-street guest parking as a registration condition; South Shore winter parking bans limit street storage.
No Massachusetts statute caps short-term rental occupancy. Limits come from each town's STR bylaw and the property's septic system. Plymouth, Marshfield, and Scituate tie guest counts to bedrooms and Title 5 septic capacity.
Every short-term rental operator in Plymouth 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 Plymouth as in Brockton.
MGL c.175 §4F
An operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental
1 cities in Plymouth County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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