Cambridge does not impose a specific annual night cap but restricts non-owner-occupied operations entirely and requires the owner to maintain primary residence at least 9 months per year.
Unlike some Massachusetts communities that cap rental nights at 90 or 120 per year, Cambridge takes a different approach by requiring owner-occupancy as the primary compliance mechanism. The owner must occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least 9 months per year, which functionally limits the number of nights the property can be rented when the host is away or while hosting guests in the same dwelling. Multi-family owner-occupied homes may rent additional units more extensively, subject to registration and tax requirements. Violations of the primary residence rule are grounds for registration revocation.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces numerical decibel limits: 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night at residential receptors, with a 5 dBA penalty for tonal or impulsive sounds.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge treats persistent barking as a noise violation under Chapter 8.16 and an animal nuisance under Chapter 6.04; owners of chronically barking dogs fac...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge banned gas-powered leaf blowers in 2024, requiring all landscapers and residents to switch to electric models, with time and decibel restrictions r...
Cambridge, MA
Outdoor music events in Cambridge require a one-day entertainment license from the License Commission, with end times typically capped at 10 PM on weeknights...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces strict industrial and commercial noise limits: 60 dB days and 50 dB nights at residential property lines, aligned with MassDEP Policy 90-001.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge reserves designated EV charging station spaces for actively charging electric vehicles only, and new large developments must provide EV-ready parki...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle night caps.
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