Cambridge, MA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
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.
Key Facts
- Registration required with
- Inspectional Services Department
- Pre-issuance step
- Mandatory unit and bedroom inspection
- Renewal cycle
- Every 5 years, or on ownership change
- Proof required
- Primary residence documentation
- Ordinance effective date
- April 1, 2018
Summary
Every Cambridge short-term rental operator must register with Inspectional Services and obtain a certificate of registration before hosting, backed by a mandatory pre-issuance inspection and renewal every five years.
All dwelling units offered for short-term rentals shall register with the City and secure a certificate of registration according to standards set forth by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, and pay all associated fees. The certificate of registration shall require the operator to agree to abide by the requirements of this Section 4.60.
Full Breakdown
67. 60 requirements. If the operator isn't the property owner, written owner (and condo association, if applicable) consent is required, plus proof that a unit in the structure is the operator's primary residence, shown either through enrollment in the Cambridge residential tax exemption program or a sworn affidavit paired with a property title or tenancy agreement, photo ID, and utility or government correspondence issued within the last three months. 60. 67, item 2(c). 68 allowed the City to begin accepting applications, inspecting units, and issuing certificates starting October 1, 2017, ahead of the April 1, 2018 operative date for the substantive rental restrictions.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without a valid Inspectional Services certificate of registration violates Section 4.64, item 2, and is a zoning violation the Commissioner of Inspectional Services can enforce through denial, non-renewal, or revocation of registration under the standards set out in Section 4.67; the certificate itself binds the operator to abide by all Section 4.60 requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Cambridge?
Will the City inspect my unit before approving a Cambridge STR?
How often must I renew my Cambridge short-term rental certificate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
How Cambridge compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Cambridge to another location·View the Massachusetts short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle short-term rental permits.