Somerville, MA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Section 14. A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may regulate operators registered pursuant to section 67 of chapter 62C and impose penalties for the violation of such an ordinance or by-law. A city or town, by ordinance or by-law, may: (i) regulate the existence or location of operators under this section within the city or town, including regulating the class of operators and number of local licenses or permits issued to operators under this section and the number of days a person may operate and rent out an accommodation in a calendar year; (ii) require the licensing or registration of operators within the city or town; [...] (iii) require operators to demonstrate that any properties or premises controlled, occupied, operated, managed or used as accommodations subject to the excise under this chapter are not subject to any outstanding building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, health, housing or zoning code enforcement, including any notices of violation, notices to cure, orders of abatement, cease and desist orders or correction notices; (iv) require properties or premises controlled, occupied, operated, managed or used by operators as an accommodation subject to the excise under this chapter to undergo health and safety inspections; provided, however, that the cost of any inspection conducted under this section shall be charged to and solely paid by the operator under this section; [...] Notwithstanding any ordinance or by-law adopted by a city or town pursuant to this section, an operator of a short-term rental shall post inside the short-term rental unit information regarding the location of any fire extinguishers, gas shut off valves, fire exits and fire alarms in the unit and building.