Every Somerville STR must register annually with the city, pay a fee, pass a life-safety inspection, and register with the MA Department of Revenue for room occupancy tax.
Somerville requires every STR operator to complete annual registration with Inspectional Services Division or the designated licensing office before advertising or accepting bookings. The application requires proof of ownership or long-term tenancy, proof of primary residence, proof of insurance meeting the $1M state minimum, and disclosure of the unit type and number of bedrooms. After application, Somerville conducts a life-safety inspection covering smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, egress, electrical safety, and lead paint compliance for units built before 1978 where children may stay. Operators must also register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue via MassTaxConnect to remit room occupancy tax under MGL c.64G. The registration certificate number must appear in all listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms. Registration is not transferable and must be renewed annually. Operating without registration results in fines up to $300 per offense and potential permanent disqualification.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
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