Newton, MA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- City registration filing fee
- $100, set by City Council
- Fee due
- At time of registration
- Inspection fees
- Paid directly to inspecting department
- Fire inspection fee reference
- Sec. 17-10
- State prerequisite
- State certificate under G.L. c. 62C, § 67
Summary
Newton charges short-term rental operators a $100 city registration filing fee set by the city council, on top of any inspection fees, such as the Fire Department's smoke and carbon monoxide inspection charge, paid separately and directly to the inspecting department.
(e) Registration Filing Fee. At the time of registration, Operators must pay a filing fee of $100, an amount established by the City Council. All applicable inspection fees shall be paid directly to the inspecting department at the time of inspection. ... Operators shall be responsible for the smoke detector inspection/permit fee to be paid directly to the Fire Department as set forth in Sec. 17-10 of these Ordinances.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 20-162(e) sets a $100 registration filing fee, payable at the time of registration and established by the City Council, and specifies that all applicable inspection fees are paid directly to the inspecting department at the time of inspection rather than bundled into the filing fee. Sec. 20-162(c) separately requires operators to schedule a Fire Department inspection for the smoke detector and carbon monoxide Certificate of Compliance before any occupancy commencing after January 1, 2020, with the operator responsible for that inspection or permit fee as set out in Sec. 17-10. Before paying any Newton fee, Sec. 20-162(a) also requires operators to already hold a state registration certificate issued under G.L. c. 62C, § 67, meaning the local fee sits on top of, not in place of, state room-occupancy tax registration obligations.
Violations & Fines
Operating or advertising a Short Term Rental without completing the paid registration under Sec. 20-162, including the $100 filing fee, breaches the Sec. 20-161(a) compliance requirement and leaves the unit unregistered, exposing the operator to code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a short-term rental in Newton?
Is the Fire Department inspection fee included in Newton's $100 short-term rental fee?
Do I need a state tax certificate before paying Newton's short-term rental fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newton
How Newton compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Newton to another location·View the Massachusetts short-term rentals overview
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Taxes & Fees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle taxes & fees.