Cambridge, MA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Core requirement
- Unit must be operator's primary residence
- Proof option 1
- Cambridge residential tax exemption enrollment
- Proof option 2
- Sworn affidavit plus ID and utility record
- Verifying record window
- Utility/government document within 3 months
- Applies to
- Operator-occupied and owner-adjacent STRs
Summary
Cambridge only permits operator-occupied short-term rentals in a unit that is the operator's actual primary residence, and operators must prove that status with a tax-exemption enrollment or a sworn affidavit.
Operator-occupied short-term rental. The short-term rental of a dwelling unit, or of no more than three (3) individual bedrooms within such dwelling unit, that is the primary residence of its operator. ... Only operator-occupied short-term rentals and owner-adjacent short-term rentals are permitted.
Full Breakdown
Cambridge's Zoning Ordinance builds the primary-residence requirement into the legal definition itself. 62, item e likewise requires that one unit in the building be the operator's primary residence even when the rented unit itself is not. 67, item 1 forces operators to prove this status before getting a certificate: 'all operators shall provide the City with proof that one of the units in the structure is used as the operator's primary residence, either by: 1) providing proof of enrollment in the Cambridge residential tax exemption program, or 2) providing an affidavit, signed under the pains and penalties of perjury, stating that the dwelling being used for short-term rental is the operator's primary residence,' together with a property title or tenancy agreement, photo ID, and government or utility correspondence issued within the last three months. '
Violations & Fines
Registering or operating a short-term rental in a unit that is not the operator's verified primary residence, or submitting false affidavit documentation under Section 4.67, item 1, exposes the operator to certificate denial or revocation by Inspectional Services and to the perjury exposure the affidavit is signed under.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a Cambridge short-term rental if I don't live there?
How do I prove a unit is my primary residence for a Cambridge STR permit?
Why does Cambridge require STR hosts to live on site?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
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Primary-Residence-Only Rule in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle primary-residence-only rule.