Is Airbnb legal in Boston, MA?

Restricted

Before buying or changing your hosting model, compare local eligibility, booking taxes and renewal responsibilities in the Massachusetts detailed host guide and worksheet. The city summary below retains its own review date.

Airbnb is restricted in Boston, MA

The owner must occupy the building nine or more months a year, which bars investor-owned units. Three owner-occupancy-based categories only. The $200 registration fee applies to a home-share or owner-adjacent unit; a limited-share registration is $25.

Short-Term Residential Rentals Ordinance (2018)View the ordinance

Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.

Key rules at a glance

Permit or registration

Required

Primary residence only

Yes

Annual night cap

Not confirmed

Registration fee

$200

How short-term rentals work in Boston

The first step in Boston is the city's permit or registration process, with a fee of about $200. The primary-residence requirement is the rule that shapes everything else here. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Only owner-occupants can run a short-term rental in Boston. Non-owner, investor-owned whole-home STRs are generally not permitted, which rules out the classic buy-and-Airbnb strategy here.

At the state level, Massachusetts leaves short-term rental rules to cities and counties.

What it means for investors

Boston is a tough market for a non-owner-occupied short-term rental. If you own or want to buy here, a long-term rental or a house-hack (living in the property while renting part of it) is usually the more realistic play.

Analyze a rental hereCheck long-term rent

Short-term rental rules elsewhere in Massachusetts

Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Boston?

The owner must occupy the building nine or more months a year, which bars investor-owned units. Three owner-occupancy-based categories only. The $200 registration fee applies to a home-share or owner-adjacent unit; a limited-share registration is $25. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.

Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Boston?

Yes. Boston requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.

Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Boston?

Generally no. Boston limits short-term rentals to the host's primary residence, so an investor-owned property you do not live in typically cannot be used as a whole-home STR.

Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Boston?

No specific annual night cap was confirmed for Boston, though minimum-stay rules or license caps may effectively limit operations. Check the ordinance.

What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Boston?

Short-term rentals in Boston are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Massachusetts and the city.