Medford, MA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Section 94-8.4.5(1) of the Revised Ordinances sets the host-presence condition for shared-unit short-term rentals in the City of Medford: an operator offering bedrooms within their own residential unit must ensure that "one bedroom in the unit shall be reserved for, and occupied by, the operator during the entire term of the rental." That presence requirement is what lets a shared-unit rental run 365 days a year with no annual cap, distinguishing it from renting the entire unit while the operator is away, which Section 94-8.4.5(2) limits to 90 aggregate days a year.

The host-presence rule works together with the primary-residence requirement in Section 94-8.4.4(1), the six-guest or two-per-bedroom occupancy cap in Section 94-8.4.4(3), and the one-party-at-a-time rule in Section 94-8.4.4(2), so a host renting rooms cannot simultaneously book out their own reserved bedroom or exceed the overall guest limit. The unit must also carry a current $200 annual registration under Section 94-8.4.13 and post required parking, noise, waste and emergency-contact notices for guests under Section 94-8.4.10, and it cannot have any outstanding building, sanitary, zoning or fire code violation under Section 94-8.4.7.