Worcester County, MA Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

Worcester County does not regulate short-term rental parking because county government was abolished in 1998. The City of Worcester adopted a Short-Term Residential Rental ordinance (Worcester Revised Ordinances Chapter 12) requiring registration with the Department of Inspectional Services. Worcester's winter parking ban under Worcester Revised Ordinances Chapter 13 prohibits on-street parking from November 15 through April 15 between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM citywide, with additional snow emergency rules — a major problem for STR hosts serving Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Clark University, Holy Cross, and UMass Memorial Medical Center visitors. Resident sticker zones around WPI, Clark, and in the Main South neighborhood mean guests cannot park on-street without a sticker. Fitchburg and Leominster adopted registration ordinances in 2019-2020. Towns in the Sturbridge/Brimfield area see heavy STR use for the thrice-annual Brimfield Antique Flea Market (May, July, September) with parking plans often required as part of local approvals. Massachusetts imposes the state 5.7% room occupancy excise under MGL c. 64G plus local option up to 6%, and Worcester collects a 6% local excise per its adopted local option.