Boston, Mass., Mun. Code § 9-14 (2026) § 9-14.6
Short-Term Rental Registration Process; Certifications; Fee
Operative Text
(A) Registration process. (1) An operator who wishes to offer his or her residential unit as a short-term rental shall register with ISD, online or in a paper form prescribed by ISD, to be listed on the Short-Term Rental Registry. A registration shall be valid for a one-year term, from January 1 through December 31 of each year or for such alternative 12-month period as the Commissioner shall determine. An operator shall provide information to be listed on the Registry, including: operator name, address of residential unit, operator’s relationship to the unit, whether residential unit is being offered as a limited share, home share or owner-adjacent unit and other information as required by ISD. The operator shall also certify that he or she and the residential unit comply with the requirements of this Section. An operator who successfully registers his or her residential unit as a short-term rental shall be issued a registration number. (2) Upon submission, and on an on-going basis as necessary, registration information shall be compared to information managed and maintained by City Departments, including, but not limited to, DoIT and DND, in order to efficiently and effectively verify compliance with the provisions of this Section. ISD shall make submissions to the Short-Term Rental Registry, or data contained within such submissions, available electronically within 30 days. (B) Fees. Units shall be annually recorded in the Short-Term Rental Registry pursuant to the following. (1) The annual registration fee for limited share units shall be $25. (2) The annual registration fee for home share units shall be $200. (3) The annual registration fee for owner-adjacent units shall be $200. (C) Re-registration upon unit turnover. A registration shall be tied to both the residential unit and the operator and will not automatically transfer upon the sale of the unit. New operators are responsible for ensuring that they re-register with ISD to obtain a new registration number if they wish to continue to list the residential unit on the Short-Term Rental Registry. (D) Amending registration upon change in primary residence. If an operator offering a registered residential unit ceases to be a primary resident of the unit, the operator shall immediately notify ISD to remove the unit from the Short-Term Rental Registry. (E) Bulk registration by booking agent. Nothing herein shall prohibit a booking agent from entering into an agreement with the city to provide registration services for short-term rental operators.
Boston Municipal Code § 9-14 § 9-14.6 establishes a mandatory registration system for short-term rental operators in Boston, administered by the Inspectional Services Department (ISD). Operators must register annually—either online or by paper form—and receive a unique registration number before listing a residential unit. Annual fees vary by unit type: $25 for limited share units and $200 for home share or owner-adjacent units. Registrations are tied to both the unit and the individual operator, meaning they do not transfer automatically when a unit changes hands, and operators must promptly notify ISD if the unit is no longer their primary residence.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Boston Municipal Code § 9-14 § 9-14.6, compliant short-term rental operators register with ISD before listing any residential unit, renewing that registration each calendar year and paying the applicable fee based on unit type ($25 for limited share, $200 for home share or owner-adjacent). Operators who purchase a previously registered unit generally obtain a new registration number rather than assuming the prior owner's registration. When a unit ceases to be an operator's primary residence, compliant operators notify ISD promptly to have the unit removed from the Short-Term Rental Registry.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Boston Municipal Code § 9-14 § 9-14.6 requires that any operator renting out a residential unit as a short-term rental hold a valid ISD registration number, which is publicly listed on the Short-Term Rental Registry. Tenants or neighbors who suspect a unit is being offered without proper registration can check the Registry or contact ISD, which cross-references registration data with other City departments to verify compliance. Tenant-rights organizations in Boston can help individuals understand how short-term rental activity in their building may intersect with their housing rights under this provision.
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.
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