What are the key requirements for Somerville hosts?

Strict 9-month primary residency requirement - you cannot rent out a second home or an investment property.

What should Somerville hosts know about unhosted stays (autonomous units) are?

Unhosted stays (Autonomous Units) are strictly capped at 90 days per calendar year.

What should Somerville hosts know about one listing per booking agent/platform?

One listing per booking agent/platform is allowed - you cannot list rooms separately while also listing the whole unit.

What are the permit fees in Somerville?

A 3% Community Impact Fee may apply to properties in 2-3 family dwellings or 'professionally managed' units.

Somerville

Strict

STRs Allowed

MassachusettsLast updated: February 12, 2026

Baseline Verification

100%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Feb 12, 2026

Summary

Somerville allows short-term rentals only in the host's primary residence, requiring a mandatory certificate of registration and limiting unhosted rentals to 90 days per year.

Restriction Level

⛔

Strict

Score: 91 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
•Standard permit fee: $250
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•Safety standards required
•Tenants can host

In Plain English

You can only host short-term rentals in the home where you live for at least nine months of the year. You must register with the city, pay a $250 fee, and follow strict safety rules including a mandatory inspection. If you are not staying in the home during the rental, you are capped at 90 days of hosting per year; if you are present, there is no annual limit.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

90/year

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$250

Processing Time

4-8 weeks

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Strict 9-month primary residency requirement - you cannot rent out a second home or an investment property.
2.Unhosted stays (Autonomous Units) are strictly capped at 90 days per calendar year.
3.One listing per booking agent/platform is allowed - you cannot list rooms separately while also listing the whole unit.
4.A 3% Community Impact Fee may apply to properties in 2-3 family dwellings or 'professionally managed' units.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(10)

•Somerville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Somerville allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Multi-family (if primary residence).
•Somerville: One listing per booking agent/platform is allowed - you cannot list rooms separately while also listing the whole unit.

Requirements(12)

•Somerville STR warning: One listing per booking agent/platform is allowed - you cannot list rooms separately while also listing the whole unit.
•Somerville: Tenants CAN host STRs but must get written landlord approval first. Keep documentation.

Application Process(8)

•Somerville extended permit requirement: Fee consists of a $50 initial filing fee and a $200 final registration fee upon approval.
•Somerville STR permit - Step 1: Register with MA Department of Revenue. Obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Massachusetts DOR for room occupancy excise tax purposes via MassTaxConnect. Required documents: Tax ID, Property Details. Time: 1 week.

Fees & Costs(2)

•Somerville: A 3% Community Impact Fee may apply to properties in 2-3 family dwellings or 'professionally managed' units.
•Somerville charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).

Taxes(2)

•Somerville charges a Local Room Occupancy Excise of 0.06%. This applies to stays under 31 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Platforms like Airbnb typically collect and remit the 5.7% state and 6% local tax directly to the MA DOR.
•Massachusetts has a state sales tax of 0.057% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(7)

•Somerville limits stays to a maximum of 27 nights.
•Somerville: Unhosted stays (Autonomous Units) are strictly capped at 90 days per calendar year.
•Somerville limits STRs to 90 nights per year. This applies to unhosted rentals.
•Somerville: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Somerville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress path maps posted in guest rooms, Compliance with State Building and Fire Codes, Pre-certificate inspection by ISD.

Penalties(2)

•Somerville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Somerville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by violation. Second offense: Increased fines. Third offense: Increased fines. Daily fine: 300 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(3)

•Somerville exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Licensed Bed and Breakfasts, Tourist Homes operating before 2019 (under specific conditions).
•Somerville: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Massachusetts Markets

Boston

Massachusetts

Strict

Boston enforces some of the strictest short-term rental laws in the US, mandating that all units must be the host's primary residence. Investor-owned secondary units are strictly prohibited, and all hosts must register annually with the Inspectional Services Department.

Permit requiredNight limitsPrimary residence

0.1% total tax

Lenox

Massachusetts

Moderate

Short-term rentals are regulated in Lenox under a bylaw passed in 2022, requiring annual registration with the Board of Health and a $100 fee. All units must undergo a safety inspection and hosts must collect a 6% local room occupancy tax in addition to state taxes.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Edgartown

Massachusetts

Moderate

Edgartown does not currently have a local municipal STR permit system, as recent attempts to pass a licensing bylaw have failed. However, hosts must comply with the Massachusetts State Registry (MassTaxConnect) and pay a combined total tax rate of 14.45%.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Amherst

Massachusetts

Moderate

Amherst requires all short-term rentals to obtain a Residential Rental Permit, comply with strict occupancy limits, and prohibits STRs in accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Somerville

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(10)

Requirements(12)

Application Process(8)

Fees & Costs(2)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(7)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(2)

Exemptions(3)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Somerville

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Somerville?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Somerville?

3Are there rental night limits in Somerville?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Somerville?

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Amherst