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

**Yes**, Tisbury requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain an annual Short-Term Rental Certificate from the town. You need to pay an annual fee of $60, in addition to acquiring a registration number from the state. A fire department inspection is also required, costing $50.

What is the TOT tax rate in Tisbury?

**6% is** the local tax rate for short-term rentals in Tisbury. Hosts are required to collect this tax from guests in addition to the standard state excise tax. Make sure to remit these taxes to the appropriate authority to stay compliant with local regulations.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Tisbury?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Tisbury, subject to certain regulations. You need to obtain a permit and comply with occupancy limits based on bedroom count, allowing 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests. Ensure your property meets all safety standards and local noise rules.

How much does an STR permit cost in Tisbury?

**The permit costs** $60 annually for the Short-Term Rental Certificate in Tisbury. This fee is in addition to the $50 fee for the required fire department inspection. Make sure to factor these costs into your operating budget when running a short-term rental business.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Tisbury?

**No**, renters are not allowed to host on Airbnb in Tisbury. Only property owners are eligible to apply for and obtain the required Short-Term Rental Certificate. This ensures that only authorized individuals are operating short-term rentals within the town limits, maintaining safety and compliance.

Tisbury

Moderate

MassachusettsUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Tisbury requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain an annual certificate from the town and a registration number from the state. Stays are limited to occupancy based on bedroom count (2 per bedroom + 2), and a 6% local tax applies in addition to the state excise tax.

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Tisbury, you must first register with both the state of Massachusetts and the town. You will need to pay an annual town fee of $60 and pass a fire department inspection ($50). While there is no cap on the number of nights you can rent, you must ensure your property meets safety standards and that your guests follow the local noise rules. You are also required to show your permit number on any online listing.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$60

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must have your MA State DOR number before applying for the Tisbury town permit.
2A mandatory fire inspection is required every year for certificate renewal.
3Occupancy is strictly capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests.
4Properties on 'Professionally Managed' lists (2+ units in one building) may be subject to an additional 3% Community Impact Fee.
5Failure to display your permit number in your Airbnb/VRBO listing can result in fines and platform removal.
6Stays longer than 31 days are exempt from the STR tax and registration rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Tisbury prohibits STRs in the following property types: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Affordable/Income-restricted housing.
Tisbury: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Tisbury: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
Tisbury allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family homes, Condominiums.

Requirements12 rules

Tisbury STR warning: Septic Limits: Occupancy is strictly limited by the number of bedrooms approved for the property's septic system.
Tisbury STR warning: ADU Prohibition: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as short-term rentals.
Tisbury STR warning: 14-Day Rule: If you rent for 14 days or less per year, you are tax-exempt but still must register and carry insurance.

Application process8 rules

Tisbury STR permit - Step 3: Submit Town Registration. Apply for a local permit through the Tisbury Building Department/Select Board. (Forms being updated following Dec 2024 vote). Required documents: State Registration Certificate, Insurance Certificate, Proof of primary residence (if applicable).

Fees & costs1 rule

Tisbury: Insurance Mandate: State law requires $1,000,000 in liability insurance; homeowners' policies often exclude commercial rental use.

Taxes1 rule

Tisbury charges a Local Option Room Occupancy Excise of 6%. This applies to stays under 32 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Intermediaries like Airbnb and VRBO are required by MA state law to collect and remit the 5.7% state and 6% local excise taxes.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Tisbury enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Tisbury: Septic Limits: Occupancy is strictly limited by the number of bedrooms approved for the property's septic system.
Tisbury: One Property Limit: Owners are restricted to registering only one property as a short-term rental in Tisbury.

Safety requirements1 rule

Tisbury requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Evacuation plan must be posted, Instruction for trash and recycling must be provided.

Penalties2 rules

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

Exemptions3 rules

Tisbury: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Tisbury: 14-Day Rule: If you rent for 14 days or less per year, you are tax-exempt but still must register and carry insurance.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Tisbury

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

State Registration

Register your rental with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) via MassTaxConnect to obtain your state certificate number.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Town Registration

Apply for the Tisbury STR Certificate through the Town's ViewPoint Cloud portal.

10-14 days$60

Documents needed

MA DOR Number
Insurance Certificate

Official resource

Step 3

Fire Inspection

Schedule a safety and fire inspection with the Tisbury Fire Department.

7 days$50

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Tisbury

Moderate

MassachusettsUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$60

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must have your MA State DOR number before applying for the Tisbury town permit.
2A mandatory fire inspection is required every year for certificate renewal.
3Occupancy is strictly capped at 2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional guests.
4Properties on 'Professionally Managed' lists (2+ units in one building) may be subject to an additional 3% Community Impact Fee.
5Failure to display your permit number in your Airbnb/VRBO listing can result in fines and platform removal.
6Stays longer than 31 days are exempt from the STR tax and registration rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Tisbury prohibits STRs in the following property types: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Affordable/Income-restricted housing.
Tisbury: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Tisbury: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.
Tisbury allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family homes, Condominiums.

Requirements12 rules

Tisbury STR warning: Septic Limits: Occupancy is strictly limited by the number of bedrooms approved for the property's septic system.
Tisbury STR warning: ADU Prohibition: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as short-term rentals.
Tisbury STR warning: 14-Day Rule: If you rent for 14 days or less per year, you are tax-exempt but still must register and carry insurance.

Application process8 rules

Tisbury STR permit - Step 3: Submit Town Registration. Apply for a local permit through the Tisbury Building Department/Select Board. (Forms being updated following Dec 2024 vote). Required documents: State Registration Certificate, Insurance Certificate, Proof of primary residence (if applicable).

Fees & costs1 rule

Tisbury: Insurance Mandate: State law requires $1,000,000 in liability insurance; homeowners' policies often exclude commercial rental use.

Taxes1 rule

Tisbury charges a Local Option Room Occupancy Excise of 6%. This applies to stays under 32 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Intermediaries like Airbnb and VRBO are required by MA state law to collect and remit the 5.7% state and 6% local excise taxes.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Tisbury enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Tisbury: Septic Limits: Occupancy is strictly limited by the number of bedrooms approved for the property's septic system.
Tisbury: One Property Limit: Owners are restricted to registering only one property as a short-term rental in Tisbury.

Safety requirements1 rule

Tisbury requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Evacuation plan must be posted, Instruction for trash and recycling must be provided.

Penalties2 rules

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

Exemptions3 rules

Tisbury: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Tisbury: 14-Day Rule: If you rent for 14 days or less per year, you are tax-exempt but still must register and carry insurance.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Tisbury

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

State Registration

Register your rental with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) via MassTaxConnect to obtain your state certificate number.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Town Registration

Apply for the Tisbury STR Certificate through the Town's ViewPoint Cloud portal.

10-14 days$60

Documents needed

MA DOR Number
Insurance Certificate

Official resource

Step 3

Fire Inspection

Schedule a safety and fire inspection with the Tisbury Fire Department.

7 days$50

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

State Registration

Town Registration

Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Tisbury?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Tisbury?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Tisbury?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Tisbury?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

State Registration

Town Registration

Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Tisbury?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Tisbury?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Tisbury?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Tisbury?

Disclaimer