Plymouth County, MA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Plymouth County, MA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- State registry
- Mandatory (MA DOR)
- Local license
- Town option, c.64G §14
- Coastal towns
- Active STR programs
- Enforcement
- Town, not county
Summary
Short-term rental operators register with the Massachusetts DOR statewide, and under MGL c.64G §14 each Plymouth County town can require its own licensing. Plymouth, Marshfield, and Scituate run local STR registration programs.
require the licensing or registration of operators within the city or town; provided, however, that a city or town may: (A) accept a certificate of registration issued to an operator in accordance with section 67 of chapter 62C in lieu of requiring an operator to obtain a local license or registration under this section
Full Breakdown
Every short-term rental in Plymouth County must be listed on the Massachusetts Department of Revenue registry. On top of that, MGL c.64G §14 lets each town require operators to hold a local license or registration, and a town can accept the state certificate instead. Plymouth, Marshfield, and Scituate run registration schemes with inspections, fire-safety checks, and annual renewal. Brockton and inland towns like Middleborough apply lighter requirements. The town, not Plymouth County, issues and enforces the local permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered rental exposes the host to state penalties and back taxes plus town fines. Towns can suspend or refuse a local license for non-compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Plymouth County?
Does the county license short-term rentals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
How Plymouth County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts short-term rentals overview
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