Amherst, Mass., Gen. Bylaws ch. 3.50 (June 2026) § K
Disclosure Notification and Other Requirements
Operative Text
(1) Permit Display and Use.
a. Residential Rental Permit shall be conspicuously displayed in each Dwelling Unit in a
prominent location easily accessible to tenants, inspection officials, and emergency
personnel.
b. A Residential Rental Permit shall show the following:
1. The date of issuance and expiration date;
2. The maximum number of Persons who may reside in the Dwelling Unit;
3. The tax parcel identification number, street address, and unit number of
Residential Rental Property;
4. Notification that the Residential Rental Permit is subject to the imposition of
terms and conditions, suspension, or revocation based upon failure to comply with
the applicable requirements of the Town of Amherst Bylaws and Regulations;
5. The name, telephone number, postal address, email address of the Person-In-
Charge; and
6. Any requirements or restrictions imposed by the Town on the Permit pursuant to
this Bylaw.
(2) Tenant Information Sheet. In addition to documents required by the Commonwealth, the
Owner shall distribute to each tenant an information sheet as defined by Regulations
adopted pursuant to this Bylaw. A signed copy of this form or proof of form delivery
shall be maintained by the Owner and shall be made available to the tenant, Principal
Code Official, or Town upon request. For Short-Term Rentals, the Owner shall make
the information sheet available to guests in a conspicuous location.
(3) Leases Available. Copies of all current, active leases for the subject Property or Dwelling
Units shall be kept on file with the owner or manager and shall be made available to the
Principal Code Official within 48 hours of any request.
(4) Coercive conduct. No Person shall coerce, threaten, or intimidate any other Person into
failing to report, or retaliate against or threaten to retaliate against any Person for
reporting a violation of this Bylaw or the requirements of the Massachusetts Sanitary
Code, Building Code, or Fire Regulations, or to waive any rights established by law.Amherst General Bylaws ch. 3.50 § K establishes several disclosure and operational requirements for residential rental properties. A valid Residential Rental Permit must be posted visibly inside each dwelling unit and must display specific information including occupancy limits, contact details for the Person-In-Charge, and notice that the permit can be suspended or revoked for noncompliance. Owners must also provide tenants with a Town-defined information sheet, keep current lease copies available for inspection within 48 hours of a request, and are prohibited from coercing, threatening, or retaliating against anyone who reports a bylaw or code violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Amherst General Bylaws ch. 3.50 § K generally post the Residential Rental Permit in a prominent, easily visible location within each dwelling unit, ensuring all six required data fields—including occupancy limits and Person-In-Charge contact information—are current and legible. Compliant owners distribute the Town-prescribed tenant information sheet at the start of each tenancy, retain a signed copy or proof of delivery, and keep all active lease copies organized so they can be produced to the Principal Code Official within the 48-hour window. Operators also take care to avoid any conduct that could be characterized as coercion, threats, or retaliation against tenants or others who report code or bylaw concerns.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Amherst General Bylaws ch. 3.50 § K, tenants have the right to receive a Town-defined information sheet from their owner and to have a properly displayed Residential Rental Permit visible in their dwelling unit showing, among other things, the maximum permitted occupancy. The bylaw explicitly prohibits landlords from coercing, threatening, or retaliating against any person who reports a violation of this bylaw or the Massachusetts Sanitary Code, Building Code, or Fire Regulations, meaning tenants who raise concerns are protected from such conduct. Tenants who believe these requirements are not being met may consider contacting the Town of Amherst's Principal Code Official, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or reviewing the complaint procedures available through the Town.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.