Boston requires Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms to delist units that accumulate repeated nuisance, registration, or zoning violations. ISD maintains a violator list shared with platforms, who must remove flagged listings within five business days.
Under Boston Ord. 12-9.1's platform accountability provisions, the City compiles a list of STR units cited for ordinance, building code, sanitation, or noise violations. Hosts with three substantiated violations within a 12-month period have registration revoked and are placed on a citywide ineligibility list. Platforms must check the list before processing bookings and remove flagged listings, or face per-day fines themselves. The 2019 First Circuit decision in Airbnb v. Boston upheld these data-sharing requirements against a Communications Decency Act preemption challenge.
Booking platforms that fail to delist flagged units after notice owe penalties of up to $300 per day per listing, in addition to host-side enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Boston, MA
Boston has no general ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, statues, or yard decorations on private residential property. Decorations must stay within proper...
Boston, MA
Boston has no specific ordinance regulating inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Inflatables must not encroach on sidewalks, block pu...
Boston, MA
Boston does not have a dedicated ordinance regulating holiday lighting on private residential property. General nuisance, electrical safety, and historic dis...
Boston, MA
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Boston require Inspectional Services Department permits when they include gas, plumbing, electrical, or structural work. Built-...
Boston, MA
Boston treats smokers and solid-fuel grills (wood, pellet, charcoal) the same as charcoal grills under Massachusetts Fire Code 527 CMR 1.00. Use on balconies...
Boston, MA
Boston's Fire Prevention Code (527 CMR 1.00, Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code) prohibits the use or storage of LP-gas grills and propane cylinder...
See how Boston's repeat violator strikes rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.