Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Springfield

Springfield, MA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Residency required
9 of 12 months
Proof needed
ID plus one residency document
Applies to
Home share & limited share units
Chapter adopted
Oct. 5, 2020

Summary

Springfield limits most short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence, defined as living in the unit at least nine of the preceding or upcoming twelve months, proven with ID and a residency document.

PRIMARY RESIDENCE: A residential unit in which an operator resides for at least nine months out of a twelve-month period. Primary residence shall be demonstrated by showing that as of the date of registration...the operator has resided in said residential unit for nine of the past 12 months or that the operator intends to reside in the residential unit for nine of the next 12 months.

View official code

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

Chapter 238 of the Springfield, Massachusetts, General Code defines PRIMARY RESIDENCE as a unit where the operator resides at least nine months out of a twelve-month period, shown either by nine of the past twelve months of residency or an intent to reside there nine of the next twelve. Home share and limited share unit categories both depend on this primary-residence status, and operators must supply a driver's license or state ID plus one other document, such as a utility bill, at registration to prove it.

Violations & Fines

Registering a unit as a home share or limited share short-term rental without qualifying primary-residence proof, or falsifying that proof, voids the registration and triggers Chapter 238's penalty provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long must I have lived in a Springfield rental to list it short-term?
Chapter 238 requires primary residence for nine of the preceding or intended next twelve months, proven with ID plus a second residency document.
What if I don't primarily live in the unit I want to rent?
It can't register as a home share or limited share unit; only an owner-occupied owner-adjacent unit in a two- or three-family building offers a limited exception.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Springfield

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSignificant RestrictionsShort-Term Rental PermitsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSignificant RestrictionsRepeat Violator StrikesSignificant RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsTaxes & FeesSome RestrictionsHost Platform LiabilitySignificant RestrictionsHost Presence RuleSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsExtended Home ShareSome RestrictionsNoise RulesSignificant RestrictionsNight CapsSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Springfield rules

Compare Springfield to another location·View the Massachusetts short-term rentals overview

Get notified when Primary-Residence-Only Rule in Springfield, MA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.