Short-term rentals in Middlesex County must comply with local noise bylaws and the Massachusetts nighttime noise standard, with operators responsible for guest conduct under local STR registration rules.
Short-term rental operators across Middlesex County are directly responsible for enforcing noise compliance among their guests. Each of the 54 Middlesex municipalities maintains a general noise bylaw, with typical nighttime quiet hours of 10 PM to 7 AM on weekdays and 11 PM to 8 AM on weekends. Most towns prohibit amplified sound audible beyond the property line, loud parties, and construction noise during quiet hours. STR operators in cities like Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, Newton, and Framingham face additional STR-specific rules requiring posted quiet hours inside the rental, a 24/7 local contact who can respond within one hour, and potential registration revocation after repeated noise complaints (commonly 2 to 3 verified complaints in a 12-month period). Violations of the local noise bylaw are enforced by police with fines typically 100 to 300 dollars per offense, and STR registration enforcement is handled by the licensing board or building department.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle noise rules.
See how Arlington's noise rules rules stack up against other locations.
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