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Lynn, MA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Registration
Yearly, $25 initial
Renewal
$15 per unit
Inspection
Every 5 years, $100
Unregistered Fine
$300 per day
Adopted
October 2020

Summary

Lynn requires every private residential rental unit, including condos, to register yearly with Inspectional Services and pass inspection every five years. Initial registration is $25, renewed at $15 per unit; unregistered rentals face a $300-per-day fine.

Owners of private residential rental housing units, including condominium units, shall register yearly and have inspections of such properties every five years and achieve compliance with the Inspectional Services Department ("ISD").

Source: City of Lynn Revised OrdinancesView official code

Full Breakdown

Lynn's City Council adopted the rental ordinance on September 29, 2020, and the mayor signed it October 1, 2020. Owners of private residential rental housing, including individual condominium units, must register yearly with the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) and have each unit inspected at least once every five years to confirm compliance with the state Sanitary Code and fire-safety rules. The inspection fee is $100 with a $25 reinspection fee. Owner-occupied units may file an Owner Exempt Affidavit. ISD enforces the program; its inspections have flagged overcrowding, fire, and safety hazards across the city's rental stock.

Violations & Fines

Failing to register a long-term rental carries a $300 fine for each day it stays unregistered. A failed inspection requires corrections plus a $25 reinspection fee; renting units with sanitary-code or fire hazards triggers correction orders and further penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register my rental in Lynn?
Yes. Every private residential rental unit, including condos, must register yearly with Inspectional Services and pass an inspection every five years. Owner-occupied units may file an exemption affidavit.
What happens if I do not register?
The ordinance imposes a $300 fine for every day a long-term rental stays unregistered, and the unit must still pass a five-year safety inspection.
What does the inspection check?
Inspectors verify smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, heating, plumbing, structural safety, and overall habitability. Recent Lynn inspections found overcrowding and fire hazards.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lynn

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All Lynn rules

Compare Lynn to another location·View the Massachusetts rental property rules overview

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