Hampden County, MA Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Massachusetts regulates short-term rentals (occupied stays of 31 days or less) statewide through Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018, which expanded M.G.L. c. 64G to cover STRs effective July 1, 2019. Statewide requirements: (1) Registration with the Department of Revenue under M.G.L. c. 64G §3 and §67 of c. 62C — operators must register before offering a unit. (2) State room occupancy excise of 5.7% under M.G.L. c. 64G §3(a) on each transfer of occupancy. (3) Local option excise up to 6% (6.5% in Boston) under M.G.L. c. 64G §3A if adopted by the city or town. (4) Community impact fee up to 3% under M.G.L. c. 64G §3D — applies to professionally-managed units (operator owns 2+ STR units in the same town not in their primary residence) or two/three-family dwellings where the operator lives on-site; 35% of revenue must go to affordable housing or infrastructure. (5) $1,000,000 minimum liability insurance per occurrence under M.G.L. c. 175 §4D. (6) Registration with a statewide STR registry maintained by EOHLC under M.G.L. c. 64G §15. The state DOR also requires a Certificate of Registration. Hampden County government was abolished in 1998 (M.G.L. c. 34B §1) — there is no county STR ordinance. Each Hampden County municipality decides whether to adopt the local option tax, the community impact fee, and additional zoning rules: Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, and Agawam have varying local rules — confirm with the town clerk or assessor before listing.