Is Airbnb legal in Springfield, 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 Springfield, MA

Every STR must register and be a home-share or owner-adjacent unit, with the operator owning the unit as a primary residence for at least nine months a year, so investor-owned units cannot register. Unhosted whole-unit rentals are capped at 90 days a year, and rentals are limited to eight guests. A state room occupancy excise applies.

Springfield Code Ch. 238View 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

90 nights

Registration fee

$200

How short-term rentals work in Springfield

The first step in Springfield 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. Factor the 90-night annual cap into any revenue projection. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Only owner-occupants can run a short-term rental in Springfield. 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

Springfield 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 Springfield?

Every STR must register and be a home-share or owner-adjacent unit, with the operator owning the unit as a primary residence for at least nine months a year, so investor-owned units cannot register. Unhosted whole-unit rentals are capped at 90 days a year, and rentals are limited to eight guests. A state room occupancy excise applies. 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 Springfield?

Yes. Springfield 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 Springfield?

Generally no. Springfield 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 Springfield?

Yes. Springfield caps rentals at about 90 nights a year for the relevant category (often unhosted or non-primary stays); hosted stays are frequently uncapped. Confirm which cap applies to your setup.

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

Short-term rentals in Springfield 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.