Springfield, MA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Springfield, 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
- before any short-term rental use
- Application fee
- $200 per application
- Annual fee
- $100 due January 2
- Inspection
- required at registration and annually
- Transfer
- does not transfer on sale
Summary
Springfield requires every short-term rental to register with Code Enforcement before operating, pay a $200 application fee plus a $100 annual renewal, and pass an inspection at registration and every year after.
All residential units utilized as short-term rentals shall be required to register with the City of Springfield's Code Enforcement Department prior to commencing said use. A registration shall be valid for a one-year term, from January 1 through December 31 of each year... Operators shall be responsible for paying an application fee of $200 per application under this chapter..., and upon successful registration, operators shall be responsible for paying an annual registration fee of $100 (due on January 2 of each calendar year).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4680006; v21 updated 2025-12-15; through 12-15-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under Springfield City Code § 238-6, no residential unit may be offered as a short-term rental until it is registered with the City's Code Enforcement Department; registration runs January 1 through December 31 and requires a floor plan, egress details, and owner certification. The City inspects the unit before initial registration and again annually at renewal to confirm it meets minimum habitability standards, and operators consent to that access by applying. Registration costs a $200 application fee plus a $100 annual renewal fee. Registration does not transfer on sale: a new owner must re-register. These rules apply citywide in Hampden County, Massachusetts, with no county-level layer; Hampden County government was abolished in 1998.
Violations & Fines
Operating without registering, or while a registration is suspended, is fined $300 per violation per day, with each day of noncompliance counted as a separate offense under § 238-7A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Springfield?
How much does Springfield short-term rental registration cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
How Springfield compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Springfield to another location·View the Massachusetts short-term rentals overview
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