Short-term rental rules in Boston
Registration required. A yearly night limit is not stated on the official pages we read.
Rules covered: Boston Code of Ordinances ch. IX, s. 9-14 Short-Term Residential Rentals (Short-Term Rental Program, Inspectional Services). The table shows what the official pages state, with the wording and the date we read it. A row marked "Not stated" means the pages we read do not say; it does not mean there is no rule.
What the official pages state
| Rule | What the official page states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit or registration | Registration required Registration with the City of Boston Inspectional Services (ISD); annual renewal, plus a business certificate from the City Clerk. Official wordingShort-term rentals in Boston need to register with the City of Boston. | www.boston.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Primary residence only | Primary residence only Only owner-occupied condos and 1-3 family buildings; limited share and home share units must be the owner-operator's primary residence; owner-adjacent units must be in the same property as the owner's primary residence. Official wordingResidential units offered as short term rentals are only allowed in owner-occupied condominiums, single-family, two-family, and three-family buildings. | www.boston.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Yearly night limit | Not stated Boston page says the unit types may be offered up to 365 days per year, but other official Boston material (not saved) mentions a lower limit for owner-adjacent units; not resolved. | — |
| Renting the whole home | Entire home allowed Home share units (whole unit) at the owner-operator's primary residence, and owner-adjacent units in 2-3 family owner-occupied buildings; only one whole-unit listing at a time. Official wordingHome Share Units have a whole unit available for a short-term rental at the primary residence of an owner-operator. | www.boston.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Lodging tax | Not stated Ordinance refers to the state room occupancy excise (G.L. c. 64G) without stating a rate. | — |
| Number in listings | Number must appear in listings Active registration number must be included on any listing. Official wordingYou must include the active registration number issued by Inspectional Services on any listing offering a unit as a short-term rental. | www.boston.gov read 2026-10-02 |
| Penalties | Not stated Only a 2018 ordinance text states amounts; not confirmed as the current code. | — |
| How to register | Included in the $29 city report. See the report | — |