Short-term rental permit rules in Cambridge, MA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Cambridge requires all short-term rentals to be owner-occupied and registered with the city under the 2018 STR ordinance, with inspections and annual renewal mandatory.
Under the Cambridge Short-Term Rental Ordinance adopted in 2018, operators must register each unit with the Inspectional Services Department before listing. The unit must be the operator's primary residence (owner-occupied) or a unit in an owner-occupied two- or three-family building. Investor-owned non-owner-occupied rentals are prohibited. Registration requires proof of residency, property insurance, a safety self-inspection, and payment of annual fees. The city inspects units and enforces compliance with platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Operators must also register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue under MGL c.64G.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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 permit requirements.
See how Cambridge's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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