Fall River, MA Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)
Key Facts
- Residency requirement
- 9 months/year minimum
- Guest cap
- 8 guests or 2/bedroom
- Renters allowed
- One party at a time
- Proof required
- License + utility bill or voter reg.
Summary
Fall River only allows short-term rentals where the owner lives on site at least nine months a year and hosts one party of guests at a time.
The operator must reside in the dwelling being offered as a short-term rental for a minimum of nine months of each calendar year.
C. One party of renters. A short-term rental shall only be rented to one party of renters at a time, and shall not be rented as separate bedrooms, beds, or spaces to separate parties.
D. Number of guests. A short-term rental shall be limited to a maximum of eight guests, or two guests per bedroom, whichever number is fewer.
E. Annual certification. The operator must file with Inspectional Services a sworn certification attesting to continued compliance with the requirements of this article and all applicable public safety codes. Such certification shall be filed annually.
F. Annual notice to abutters. The operator must, within 30 days after registration of a short-term rental, provide notice of such registration to all abutters and owners of land directly opposite any public or private street or way. Such notification shall include the contact information of the operator and the local contact, and the registration number provided by Inspectional Services. This notice must thereafter be provided annually to all abutters and owners of land directly opposite any public or private street or way. Failure to provide such notice shall constitute a violation of this ordinance.
G.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Fall River's short-term rental ordinance is built around owner-occupancy: the operator must reside in the dwelling being rented for at least nine months of every calendar year, proven with a driver's license and a utility bill or voter registration. On top of that, only one party of renters can stay at a time, the operator can't rent separate bedrooms in the same unit to different parties simultaneously, and single-family zoning district units aren't eligible for short-term rental use at all under § 14-724(A).
Violations & Fines
Renting to more than one party at once, or operating without meeting the nine-month residency requirement, is a violation of § 14-722 and can make the property ineligible for short-term rental use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out separate bedrooms to different guests at once?
Can I short-term rent a single-family home I don't live in?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
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