Boston, Mass., Mun. Code § 9-14 (2026) § 9-14.4B
Residential Units Not Subject to Certain Provisions of this Chapter
Operative Text
(A) Currently licensed lodging houses. A residential unit offered as a short-term rental that is located in a dwelling holding a current and valid certificate of occupancy as a lodging house from ISD and a lodging house license from the Boston Licensing Board as of the effective date of this Section 9-14 shall be subject to the registration requirements contained herein, but shall not be subject to the limitations contained in Subsection 9-14.5(B), (C) or (D). (B) Existing bed and breakfasts. A residential unit offered as a short-term rental that holds a current and valid certificate of occupancy as a bed and breakfast from ISD as of the effective date of this Section shall be subject to the registration requirements contained herein, but shall not be subject to the limitations contained in Subsection 9-14.5(B), (C) or (D). (C) Residential units contracted for hospital stays. The use of a dwelling unit or portion thereof for which a contract exists between the owner of the dwelling unit and a health-care facility or government entity or non-profit organization registered as a charitable organization with the Secretary of the commonwealth or classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity or private foundation that provides for the temporary housing in such unit of individuals who are being treated for trauma, injury or disease, or their family members, shall not be considered a short-term rental. (D) Residential units used for furnished institutional or business stays. The use of a residential unit for which a contract or an agreement exists between the building owner, a corporate housing operator and an institution or business for the temporary housing of employees or individuals affiliated with such institutions or business, where the minimum stay is at least ten days, shall not be considered a short-term rental.
Boston Municipal Code § 9-14 § 9-14.4B carves out four categories of residential units from certain short-term rental restrictions. Licensed lodging houses and certified bed-and-breakfasts must still register under the chapter but are exempt from the occupancy limitations in Subsection 9-14.5(B), (C), and (D). Units used under contracts with health-care facilities, government entities, or qualifying nonprofits for patient or family housing, and units rented for at least ten days under corporate housing agreements, are not classified as short-term rentals at all under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of properties that fall into one of the four categories described in § 9-14.4B should understand which obligations still apply to them. Lodging houses and bed-and-breakfasts with valid ISD certificates and, where applicable, Boston Licensing Board licenses as of the effective date are generally expected to complete registration but are not bound by the occupancy-cap provisions of Subsection 9-14.5(B), (C), or (D). Operators whose units are covered by qualifying hospital-stay contracts or corporate housing agreements of at least ten days typically maintain documentation of those contracts to demonstrate that the unit falls outside the short-term rental definition entirely.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you are staying in a Boston residential unit under an arrangement that may fall under § 9-14.4B—such as a placement arranged by a hospital, nonprofit, or corporate housing operator—it is worth understanding whether that unit is classified as a short-term rental or is exempt from that designation. Units that qualify under the hospital-stay or corporate-housing provisions of this section are not considered short-term rentals, which can affect what protections and rules apply to your stay. Tenants with questions about how this provision applies to their housing situation may find it helpful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or the City of Boston's Inspectional Services Department for general information.
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.