Springfield, MA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $115/year
- Min. unit size
- 80 sq. ft.
- Occupancy
- One renter per unit
- First-offense fine
- $100
- Continuing fine
- $50–$200/day
Summary
Springfield requires anyone renting a room to a non-family member to first get a rooming-unit rental license from the Building Commissioner, renewed every year, under City Code § 235-2.
No person shall rent, lease, let or otherwise contract for the rental of a rooming unit to a person or persons other than members of his or her family without first obtaining a license to do so from the Building Commissioner or his designee. The Building Commissioner or his designee shall, upon payment of a fee of $115 for up to three existing bedrooms...and upon compliance with the following sections of this article, issue a license to said applicant for a period of one year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4680006; v21 updated 2025-12-15; through 12-15-2025).
Full Breakdown
Springfield's rooming-house ordinance, § 235-2 of the City Code, makes it unlawful to rent a room to anyone outside your family without a license from the Building Commissioner. The license costs $115 a year for up to three bedrooms, and requires the unit to be at least 80 square feet, house only one renter, meet the smoke-detector rule of § 178-14, and provide one off-street parking space per lodger. Licenses run one year and must be renewed annually; the Building and Housing Code Enforcement Departments can revoke one after five written complaints against a property. This is distinct from Chapter 238's short-term-rental registration.
Violations & Fines
A first violation draws a $100 fine, rising to $50 per day the violation continues within that license year, and $200 per day for any violation after that, under § 235-5D. Falsifying license information voids the license outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Springfield require a license to rent out a room?
Does this cover renting out a whole apartment?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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